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

Gina Pennacchiotti, Fabio Valdés-Gutiérrez, Wilfredo Alejandro González-Arriagada, Héctor Federico Montes, Judith Maria Roxana Parra, Valeria Andrea Guida, Silvina Esther Gómez, Martin Eduardo Guerrero-Gimenez, Juan Manuel Fernandez-Muñoz, Felipe Carlos Martin Zoppino, Rubén Walter Carón, Marcelo Eduardo Ezquer, Ricardo Fernández-Ramires, Flavia Alejandra Bruna

Journal: Scientific reports 2021;11(1):6939

PMID: 33767253

Free Full Text on Nature Publishing Group View on PubMed

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.

Address: Area Medicina Oral Departamento de Patología Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Av. Olivos 243, Independencia, Región Metropolitana, CP8320000, Santiago, Chile.; Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, Av. Profesor Zañartu 1010, Independencia, Región Metropolitana, CP8320000, Santiago, Chile.; CIICOM, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Subida Carvallo 211, Playa ancha, CP2390302, Valparaíso, Chile.; Departamento de Cirugía Cabeza-Cuello Clínica Montes, Ituzaingo 1446, CP5500, Capital, Mendoza, Argentina.; Servicio de Medicina Bucal (SEMEB), Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (FOdonto-UNCuyo), Centro Universitario, CP5500, Mendoza Capital, Argentina.; Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo (IMBECU) CCT-Mendoza CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo). Av. Adrián Ruiz Leal W/N, CP5500, Capital, Mendoza, Argentina.; Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Desarrollo-Clínica Alemana (FM, UDD-CAS), Av Las Condes 12.438, CP7690000, Lo Barnechea. Santiago, Chile.; Escuela de Odontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor (UMayor), Avda Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 2013. Región Metropolitana, CP8320000, Santiago, Chile.; Servicio de Medicina Bucal (SEMEB), Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (FOdonto-UNCuyo), Centro Universitario, CP5500, Mendoza Capital, Argentina. [email protected].; Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo (IMBECU) CCT-Mendoza CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo). Av. Adrián Ruiz Leal W/N, CP5500, Capital, Mendoza, Argentina. [email protected].; Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Desarrollo-Clínica Alemana (FM, UDD-CAS), Av Las Condes 12.438, CP7690000, Lo Barnechea. Santiago, Chile. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86208-z