SPINK7 expression changes accompanied by HER2, P53 and RB1 can be relevant in predicting oral squamous cell carcinoma at a molecular level

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 25;11(1):6939. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86208-z.

Abstract

The oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which has a high morbidity rate, affects patients worldwide. Changes in SPINK7 in precancerous lesions could promote oncogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate SPINK7 as a potential molecular biomarker which predicts OSCC stages, compared to: HER2, TP53, RB1, NFKB and CYP4B1. This study used oral biopsies from three patient groups: dysplasia (n = 33), less invasive (n = 28) and highly invasive OSCC (n = 18). The control group consisted of clinically suspicious cases later to be confirmed as normal mucosa (n = 20). Gene levels of SPINK7, P53, RB, NFKB and CYP4B1 were quantified by qPCR. SPINK7 levels were correlated with a cohort of 330 patients from the TCGA. Also, SPINK7, HER2, TP53, and RB1, were evaluated by immunohistofluorescence. One-way Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's post-hoc with a p < 0.05 significance was used to analyze data. In OSCC, the SPINK7 expression had down regulated while P53, RB, NFKB and CYP4B1 had up regulated (p < 0.001). SPINK7 had also diminished in TCGA patients (p = 2.10e-6). In less invasive OSCC, SPINK7 and HER2 proteins had decreased while TP53 and RB1 had increased with respect to the other groups (p < 0.05). The changes of SPINK7 accompanied by HER2, P53 and RB1 can be used to classify the molecular stage of OSCC lesions allowing a diagnosis at molecular and histopathological levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Mouth Neoplasms / genetics
  • Mouth Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type / genetics
  • Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • RB1 protein, human
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins
  • SPINK7 protein, human
  • Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2