Analysis of P53 Mutation and Invasion Front Grading in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

We examined P53 mutation and invasion front grading (IFG) in 30 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). The association of P53 mutation and IFG scores with clinicopa-thological parameters was evaluated. P53 mutation existed in exon 5-8 in 15 out of the 30 OSCCs (50%). The incidence of P53 mutation was not associated with age, gender, N value and TNM stage. However, there was a significant correlation between P53 mutation and T value (P=0.046). There were no statistically significant correlations among the clinicopathological parameters and IFG. Interestingly, The IFG score in OSCCs with P53 mutation was significantly higher than that in OSCCs without P53 mutation (P<0.001). These results suggest that the high incidence of P53 mutation is a major mechanism of OSCC carcinogenesis. The presence of P53 mutation indicates the most anaplastic fields in the invasive areas of the tumors, which may predict poor prognosis for the patients.

Novel insights on oral squamous cell carcinoma management using long non-coding RNAs

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is one of the most prevalent forms of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(HNSCC)with a poor overall survival rate(about 50%),particularly in cases of metastasis.RNA-based cancer biomarkers are a relatively advanced concept,and non-coding RNAs currently have shown promising roles in the detection and treatment of various malignancies.This review underlines the function of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)in the OSCC and its subsequent clinical implications.LncRNAs,a class of non-coding RNAs,are larger than 200 nucleotides and resemble mRNA in numerous ways.However,unlike mRNA,lncRNA regulates multiple druggable and non-druggable signaling molecules through simultaneous interaction with DNA,RNA,proteins,or microRNAs depending on concentration and localization in cells.Upregulation of oncogenic lncRNAs and downregulation of tumor suppressor lncRNAs are evident in OSCC tissues and body fluids such as blood and saliva indicating their potential as valuable biomarkers.Targeted inhibition of candidate oncogenic lncRNAs or overexpression of tumor suppressor lncRNAs showed potential therapeutic roles in in-vivo animal models.The types of lncRNAs that are expressed differentially in OSCC tissue and bodily fluids have been systematically documented with specificity and sensitivity.This review thoroughly discusses the biological functions of such lncRNAs in OSCC cell survival,proliferation,invasion,migration,metastasis,angiogenesis,metabolism,epigenetic modification,tumor immune microenvironment,and drug resistance.Subsequently,we addressed the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of lncRNAs in OSCC pre-clinical and clinical systems,providing details on ongoing research and outlining potential future directions for advancements in this field.In essence,this review could be a valuable resource by offering comprehensive and current insights into lncRNAs in OSCC for researchers in fundamental and clinical domains.

Galectin 2 regulates JAK/STAT3 signaling activity to modulate oral squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and migration in vitro

Background:Galectin 2(LGALS2)is a protein previously reported to serve as a mediator of disease progression in a range of cancers.The function of LGALS2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),however,has yet to be explored,prompting the present study to address this literature gap.Methods:Overall,144 paired malignant tumor tissues and paracancerous OSCC patient samples were harvested and the LGALS2 expression levels were examined through qPCR and western immunoblotting.The LGALS2 coding sequence was introduced into the pcDNA3.0 vector,to enable the overexpression of this gene,while an LGALS2-specific shRNA and corresponding controls were also obtained.The functionality of LGALS2 as a regulator of the ability of OSCC cells to grow and undergo apoptotic death in vitro was assessed through EdU uptake and CCK-8 assays,and flow cytometer,whereas a Transwell system was used to assess migratory activity and invasivity.An agonist of the Janus Kinase 2(JAK2)/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3(STAT3)pathway was also used to assess the role of this pathway in the context of LGALS2 signaling.Results:Here,we found that lower LGALS2 protein and mRNA expression were evident in OSCC tumor tissue samples,and these expression levels were associated with clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival outcomes.Silencing LGALS2 enhanced proliferation in OSCC cells while rendering these cells better able to resist apoptosis.The opposite was instead observed after LGALS2 was overexpressed.Mechanistically,the ability of LGALS2 to suppress the progression of OSCC was related to its ability to activate the JAK/STAT3 signaling axis.Conclusion:Those results suggest a role for LGALS2 as a suppressor of OSCC progression through its ability to modulate JAK/STAT3 signaling,supporting the potential utility of LGALS2 as a target for efforts aimed at treating OSCC patients.

TCGA-based analysis of oncogenic signaling pathways underlying oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background:Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)represents a prevalent malignancy in the oral and maxillofacial area,having a considerable negative impact on both the quality of life and overall survival of affected individuals.Our research endeavors to leverage bioinformatic approaches to elucidate oncogenic signaling pathways,with the ultimate goal of gaining deeper insights into the molecular underpinnings of OSCC pathogenesis,and thus laying the groundwork for the development of more effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.Methods:Differential expression analysis was performed on mRNA data from tumor and normal tissue groups to identify genes associated with OSCC,using The Cancer Genome Atlas database.Predictions of oncogenic signaling pathways linked to differentially expressedmRNAs were made,and these results were presented visually using R software,using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichments.Results:GO and KEGG analyses of 2938 differentially expressed genes in OSCC highlighted their significant involvement in various biological processes.Notably,these processes were related to the extracellular matrix,structural organization,connective tissue development,and cell cycle regulation.Conclusions:The comprehensive exploration of gene expression patterns provides valuable insights into potential oncogenic mechanisms in OSCC.

miR-221/222/PUMA Axis Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Apoptosis

Background: To investigate the therapeutic activity of the miR-221/222 inhibitor against OSCC in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: HSC3 and HSC6 were treated with miR-221/222 inhibitor and the empty vector respectively. After the recombinants were transfected into HSC3 and HSC6 with LipofectamineTM MAX, the expression of miR-221/222 and PUMA was analyzed by RT-PCR. The proliferation and migration of HSC3 and HSC6 were detected by CCK-8 assay and Wound-healing assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The effect of the miR-221/222 inhibitor was also assessed in OSCC xenografts in BALB/c-nu mice. Results: Transfection of the miR-221/222 inhibitor increased cell apoptosis and upregulated PUMA expression in OSCC cell lines HSC3 and HSC6 with the significantly reduced expression of miR-221 and miR-222. Furthermore, the miR-221/222 inhibitor suppressed cell growth and invasion and blocked the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Obvious anti-tumor activity was achieved in BALB/c-nu mice by treatment with the miR-221/222 inhibitor, together with the upregulation of PUMA protein in tumors retrieved from the mice. Conclusions: There was a significant inhibitory effect of the miR-221/222 inhibitor on the growth of OSCC both in vitro and in vivo, and there might be a regulatory loop between miR-221/222 and PUMA. These findings demonstrated that downregulation of miR-221/222 could induce cell apoptosis, and it might be considered as a candidate target for gene therapy of OSCC.

POLE2 Regulates Apoptosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Objective Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck,but its occurrence and progression mechanisms remain unclear.In addition-there is a lack of effective targeting drugs.The second major subunit of DNA polymerase(POLE2)catalyzes the prolongation of new strand replication and modifies exonuclease domain activity.Our previous study found that POLE2 was associated with OSCC progression,but the mechanism remains unclear.Methods The expression of POLE2 in OSCC tissues was detected using immunological assays.Mann-Whitney U analysis was used to investigate the relationship between POLE2 gene expression and tumor classification and prognosis of OSCC.POLE2 expression was inhibited in OSCC cells,and the effects of gene and protein expression were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting.The POLE2 knockout model was constructed by transfecting a lentiviral vector.Cell proliferation,apoptosis,and migration were detected using various assays including colony formation,MTT,flow cytometry,wound healing assay,Transwell assay,and the Human Apoptosis Antibody Array.The animal model of OSCC was established by subcutaneous injection of transfected HN6 into 4-week-old female nude mice.After 30 days,tumors were removed under anesthesia and tumor weight and dimension were recorded.Tumor cell proliferation was analyzed using Ki67 staining.Results POLE2 gene levels were significantly higher in the OSCC tissues than in the normal tissues.In addition,POLE2 gene levels were statistically correlated with tumor classification and prognosis.Silencing POLE2 inhibited the proliferation of oral cancer cells and promoted apoptosis in vitro.Animal experiments also supported a positive correlation between POLE2 and OSCC tumor formation.We further demonstrated that POLE2 could upregulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as caspase-3,CD40,CD40L,DR6,Fas,IGFBP-6,p21,and SMAC.In addition,POLE2 regulated OSCC development by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Conclusion POLE2 is closely related to the progression of OSCC.Thus,POLE2 may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.

Effects of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 on the Biological Behavior of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the effect of interleukin 6/Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(IL-6/JAK2/STAT3)on the biological behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Methods:OSCC cells were transfected with the designed lentiviral vector plasmid pGMLV-SB3(experimental group)and the corresponding negative control plasmid pGMLV-SB3-shNC(control group);48 hours after transfection,a liposome transfection kit(Sigma,USA)was used for lentivirus packaging;after virus packaging,a medium containing pGMLV-SB3 lentiviral vector was added and cultured for 24 h;the cells were harvested,and RNA was extracted;Transwell chamber assay(Sigma,USA)was used to detect cell migration and invasion ability;dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit was used to detect the level of interleukin 6(IL-6)in the culture supernatant,while serum IL-6 level was measured by ELISA.Results:The expressions of IL-6,JAK2,and STAT3 in the experimental group were significantly raised,as compared to the control group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of OSCC cells in the experimental group,which was detected by flow cytometry 48 h after transfection,was significantly higher than that of cells in the control group(P<0.05);and there was a significant improvement in the experimental group’s cell migration and invasion ability,as compared to that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the migration and invasion of OSCC cells.Inhibiting the expression of IL-6 can inhibit the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells as well as reduce their ability to invade and migrate.These results provide a new target for the treatment of OSCC.

The Effect of MMP-9 Inhibitors on the Biological Behavior of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma SCC15 Cell Line Through PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Objective:To investigate the effect of MMP-9 inhibitor(Mki67)on the biology of human oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC15 cell line and to explore its mechanism of action through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Methods:SCC15 cells were extracted,and the supernatant was discarded.The cells were then rinsed twice with PBS,and 0,2.5,5,and 10μL of Mki67(50 mg/mL)were added to the culture respectively.The inhibition rate of cell proliferation was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)method,and the cell migration was measured by Transwell chamber test.The cell apoptosis rate was detected by cytometry,and the p-Akt protein content in the cells of each group was determined by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit.Results:The cell proliferation rates of the 2.5μL,5μL,and 10μL dose groups were all lower than the 0μL group(P<0.05)before treatment,and the cell proliferation rates in the 2.5μL,5μL,and 10μL dose groups decreased overtime(P<0.05).After 24 h,with the increase of Mki67 concentration,the number of migration and invasion gradually decreased(P<0.05),and the number of apoptosis gradually increased(P<0.05);besides,the relative expression of MMP-9,PI3K,and Akt mRNA decreased gradually(P<0.05),and the expression level of Akt mRNA was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:MMP-9 inhibitor(Mki67)can inhibit the proliferation and migration of SCC15 cell line and induce apoptosis,and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

A review of clinical and histological parameters associated with contralateral neck metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC） has a high incidence of cervical micrometastases and sometimes metastasizes contralaterally because of the rich lymphatic intercommunications relative to submucosal plexus of oral cavity that freely communicate across the midline, and it can facilitate the spread of neoplastic cells to any area of the neck consequently. Clinical and histopathologic factors continue to provide predictive information to contralateral neck metastases （CLNM） in OSCC, which determine prophylactic and adjuvant treatments for an individual patient. This review describes the predictive value of clinical-histopathologic factors, which relate to primary tumor and cervical lymph nodes, and surgical dissection and adjuvant treatments. In addition, the indications for elective contralateral neck dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy （aRT） and strategies for follow-up are offered, which is strongly focused by clinicians to prevent later CLNM and poor prognosis subsequently.

Honokiol:a promising small molecular weight natural agent for the growth inhibition of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Honokiol （HNK） is a small organic molecule purified from magnolia species and has demonstrated anticancer activities in a variety of cancer cell lines; however, its effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC） cells is unknown. We investigated the antitumor activities of HNK on OSCC ceils in vitro for the first time. The inhibitory effects of HNK on the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells were demonstrated via in vitro 3-（4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） and propidium iodide （PI） assays, and the apoptotic cells were investigated by the observation of morphological changes and detection of DNA fragmentation via PI, TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling （TUNEL）, and DNA ladder assays, as well as flow cytometry assay. The results showed that HNK inhibited the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells in vitro in a time and dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect was associated with the cell apoptosis induced by HNK, evidenced by the morphological features of apoptotic cells, TUNEL-positive cells and a degradation of chromosomal DNA into small internucleosomal fragments. The study also demonstrated here that the inhibition or apoptosis mediated by 15 μg.mL-1 or 20 μg.mL-1 of HNK were more stronger compared with those of 20 μg-mL-1 5-fluorouracil （5-Fu, the control） applied to OSCC cells, when the ratio of OSCC cell numbers were measured between the treatment of different concentrations of HNK to the 5-Fu treatment for 48 h. HNK is a promising compound that can be potentially used as a novel treatment agent for human OSCC.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and circulating tumour cells

Due to a lack of substantial improvement in the outcome of patients suffering from oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) during the past decades, current staging methods need to be revised. This disease is associated with poor survival rates despite considerable advances in diagnosis and treatment. The early detection of metastases is an important indicator of survival, prognosis and relapse. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying metastasis is crucial. Exploring alternative measures apart from common procedures is needed to identify new prognostic markers. Similar to previous findings predominantly for other solid tumours, recently published studies demonstrate that circulating tumour cells(CTCs) and disseminated tumour cells(DTCs) might serve as prognostic markers and could supplement routine staging in OSCC. Thus, the detection of CTCs/DTCs is a promising tool todetermine the individual need for therapeutic intervention. Encouraging results and new approaches point to the future use of targeted therapies for OSCC, an exceedingly heterogeneous subgroup of head and neck cancer. This review focuses on summarising technologies currently used to detect CTCs/DTCs. The translational relevance for OSCC is highlighted. The inherent challenges in detecting CTCs/DTCs will be emphasised.

In vitro effect of iASPP on cell growth of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

iASPP is an inhibitory member of the apoptosis-stimulating proteins of P53 （ASPP） family. iASPP is over expressed in several malignant tumors and potentially affects cancer progression. However, the expression and potential role of iASPP in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma （OTSCC） have not been addressed. In our study, we detected iASPP expression in OTSCC by immunohistochemistry, iASPP expression is up-regulated in OTSCC tissues. Moreover, in clinical pathology specimens, we found that increased iASPP expression correlates with poor differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Using multicellular tumor spheroids （MTS） and flow cytometry, we demonstrated that iASPP down-regulation arrests OTSCC cells at the G0/G1 phase, induces OTSCC cell apoptosis and inhibits OTSCC cell proliferation. These results indicate that iASPP plays a significant role in the progression of OTSCC and may serve as a biomarker or therapeutic target for OTSCC patients.

Differential mRNA expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma by high-throughput RNA sequencing

Differentially expressed genes are thought to regulate the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas （OSCC）. The purpose of this study was to screen differentially expressed mRNAs in OSCC and matched paraneoplastic normal tissues, and to explore the intrinsic mechanism of OSCC development and progres- sion. We obtained the differentially expressed mRNA expression profiles in 10 pairs of fresh-frozen OSCC tissue specimens and matched paraneoplastic normal tissue specimens by high-throughput RNA sequencing. By using Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses, the functional significance of the differentially expressed genes were analyzed. We identified 1,120 sig- nificantly up-regulated mRNAs and 178 significantly down-regulated mRNAs in OSCC, compared to normal tissue. The differentially expressed mRNAs were involved in 20 biological processes and 68 signal pathways. Compared to adjacent normal tissue, the expression of MAGEAll was up-regulated; TCHH was down-regulated. These find- ings were verified by real-time PCR. These differentially expressed mRNAs may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in the development and progression of OSCC. This study provides novel insights into OSCC. However, further work is needed to determine if these differentially expressed mRNAs have potential roles as diagnostic bio- markers and candidate therapeutic targets for OSCC.

Black phosphorous nanosheets−gold nanoparticles−cisplatin for photothermal/photodynamic treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma

To improve five-year survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),the development of a novel composite material of black phosphorus nanosheets(BPNSs)and gold nanoparticles(AuNPs)for tumor treatment was carried out.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cytostatic effects of BPNSs,AuNPs loaded with cisplatin(CDDP)on human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells lines(SCC-9),and 7,12-dimethylbenz anthracene induced cheek squamous cell carcinoma was validated in golden hamsters animal models.The results showed that BPNSs could efficiently inhibit the metastasis and growth of OSCC compared with CDDP and AuNPs.And a combination composite of AuNPs−BPNSs loaded with CDDP could more effectively inhibit the metastasis and growth of OSCC,which might be due to the high drug-loading capacity,excellent photothermal properties and the combination of photodynamic and photothermal therapy of BPNSs and AuNPs,as well as the synergistic effects of AuNPs,BPNSs and CDDP.

Diagnostic delay in oral squamous cell carcinoma: the role of cognitive and psychological variables

This retrospective study investigated, in two cohorts of subjects living in Southern Italy and awaiting treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC）, the variables related to diagnostic delay ascribable to the patient, with particular reference to the cognitive and psychological ones. A total of 156 patients with OSCC （mean age： 62 years, M/F： 2.39 ： 1） were recruited at the Universities of Palermo and Naples. Risk factors related to patient delay included： sociodemographic, health-related, cognitive and psychological variables. The analysis was conducted by considering two different delay ranges： dichotomous （≤1 month vs. 〉 1 month） and polytomous （〈1 month, 1-3 months, 〉3 months） delay. Data were investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses and a Pvalue≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. For both delay measurements, the most relevant variables were： ＇Personal experience of cancer＇ （dichotomous delay： P=0.05, odds ratio （0R）=0.33, 95% confidence interval （CI）=0. 11-0.99; polytomous delay： P=0.006, Chi-square= 10.224） and ＇Unawareness＇ （dichotomous delay： P〈0.01, 0R=4.96, 95% CI--2.16-11.37; polytomous delay： P=0.087, Chi-square=4.77）. Also ＇Denial＇ （P〈0.01, 0R=6.84, 95% CI=2.31-20.24） and ＇Knowledge of cancer＇ （P=0.079, Chi-square=8.359） were found to be statistically significant both for dichotomous and for polytomous categorization of delay, respectively. The findings of this study indicated that, in the investigated cohorts, the knowledge about cancer issues is strongly linked to the patient delay. Educational interventions on the Mediterranean population are necessary in order to increase the patient awareness and to emphasize his/her key role in early diagnosis of OSCC.

Identification of oral squamous cell carcinoma in optical coherence tomography images based on texture features

Surgical excision is an effective treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),but exact intraoperative differentiation OSCC from the normal tissue is the first premise.As a noninvasive imaging technique,optical coherence tomography(OCT)has the nearly same resolution as the histopathological examination,whose images contain rich information to assist surgeons to make clinical decisions.We extracted kinds of texture features from OCT images obtained by a home-made swept-source OCT system in this paper,and studied the identification of OSCC based on different combinations of texture features and machine learning classifiers.It was demonstrated that different combinations had different accuracies,among which the combination of texture features,gray level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM),Laws'texture measnres(LM),and center symmetric auto-correlation(CSAC),and SVM as the classifier,had the optimal comprehensive identification effect,whose accuracy was 94.1%.It was proven that it is feasible to distinguish OSCC based on texture features in OCT images,and it has great potential in helping surgeons make rapid and accurate decisions in oral clinical practice.

Human Papillomavirus as an Independent Predictor in Oral Squamous Cell Cancer

Aim There is an increasing evidence for the role of high risk human papillomavirus （HPV） in the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC）. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relevance of HPV infection to the survival and prognosis of OSCC. Methodology Fifty-two patients with OSCC were followed from 4 to 88 months with a median of 50.7 months. HPV DNA was identified in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens by nested PCR with MY09/MY11 and GP5^＋/GP6^＋ primer pairs and the HPV genotype was determined by direct DNA sequencing. Association between the HPV status and risk factors for cancer as well as tumor-host characteristics were analyzed.Survival curves were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed using the log-rank test. Results HPV was found in 40.4% of the tumors with HPV16 accounting for 63.5%, HPV18 for 30.8%, HPV6 for 3.9% and HPVll for 1.8%. No infection with more than one HPV genotype was detected. HPV infection was significantly associated with poor histological grade, TNM stage Ⅰ -Ⅱ, alcohol usage and no smoking status. Multivariate analysis showed that HPV had an independent prognostic effect on the overall survival after adjusting other confounding factors such as histological grade, TNM stage and tobacco usage. The presence of HPV was significantly correlated with a better survival in patients with OSCC. Conclusion HPV infection can act as an independent predictor for the survival and prognosis of OSCC.

Neck observation versus elective neck dissection in management of clinical T1/2N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study of 232 patients

Objective: The management of early-stage (cT1/2N0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of neck observation (OBS) and elective neck dissection (END) in treating patients with cT1/2N0 OSCC. Methods: A total of 232 patients with cT1/2N0 OSCC were included in this retrospective study. Of these patients, 181 were treated with END and 51 with OBS. The survival curves of 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method for each group, and compared using the Log-rank test. Results: There was no significant difference in 5-year OS and DSS rates between END and OBS groups (OS: 89.0% vs. 88.2%, P=0.906; DSS: 92.3% vs. 92.2%, P=0.998). However, the END group had a higher 5-year RFS rate than the OBS group (90.1% vs. 76.5%, P=0.009). Patients with occult metastases in OBS group (7/51) had similar 5-year OS rate (57.1% vs. 64.1%, P=0.839) and DSS rate (71.4% vs. 74.4%, P=0.982) to those in END group (39/181). In the regional recurrence patients, the 5-year OS rate (57.1% vs. 11.1%, P=0.011) and DSS rate (71.4% vs. 22.2%, P=0.022) in OBS group (7/51) were higher than those in END group (9/181). Conclusions: The results indicated that OBS policy could obtain the same 5-year OS and DSS as END. Under close follow-up, OBS policy may be an available treatment option for patients with clinical T1/2N0 OSCC.

Prognostic Evaluation for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma:A Novel Method Based on m6A Methylation Regulators

Objective:This study aimed to examine a novel method for prognostic evaluation of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)based on the expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C(HNRNPC),YTH domain-binding protein 2(YTHDF2),and methyltransferase 14(METTL14).Methods:We obtained the RNA sequence and clinical information of OSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database.An optical method was established by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression algorithm,which was used to calculate the risk score of every sample.In addition,all samples(n=239)were classified into high-risk(n=119)and low-risk(n=120)groups,and the overall survival(OS)time and clinical characteristics were compared between groups.Moreover,bioinformatics analysis was carried out.Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the signaling pathways of HNRNPC,YTHDF2,and METTL14.Results:The two groups showed significantly different OS time,tumor grades,tumor stages,and pathologic T stages(P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic analysis identified that our method was effective and it was more accurate than use of age,gender,tumor grade,tumor stage,pathologic T stage,and pathologic N stage in OSCC prognostic prediction.Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that HNRNPC,YTHDF2,and METTL14 were mainly associated with ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis,cell cycle,RNA degradation,and spliceosome signaling pathways.Conclusion:The method based on the expression of HNRNPC,YTHDF2,and METTL14 can predict the prognosis of patients with OSCC independently,and its prognostic value is better than that of clinicopathological characteristic indicators.

Expression of p53, p21^(CIP1/WAF1) and eIF4E in the adjacent tissues of oral squamous cell carcinoma:establishing the molecular boundary and a cancer progression model

The present study evaluated the expression of key molecules and the status of DNA in both oral squamous cell carcinoma（OSCC） and adjacent tissues to establish a molecular surgical boundary and provide a cancer progression model. Biopsy samples from 50 OSCC patients were divided into T（cancer）, P1（0–0.5 cm）, P2（0.5–1 cm）, P3（1–1.5 cm） and P4（1.5–2 cm） groups based on the distances from the visible boundary of the primary focus. Twenty samples of normal mucosa were used as controls. We used immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry to evaluate p53, p21CIP1/WAF1, e IF4 E and Ki-67 expression and to determine DNA status, respectively. Sub-mucosal invasion was present in the P1 and P2 groups as determined by haematoxylin and eosin staining.Mutant p53 expression decreased gradually from cancerous to normal mucosae, whereas p21CIP1/WAF1 expression displayed an opposite trend. e IF4 E expression decreased from cancerous to normal mucosae. Ki-67 expression, the heteroploidy ratio, S-phase fraction and proliferative index decreased gradually with the distance from the tumour centre. Based on these results, we suggest that the resection boundary in OSCC surgery should be beyond 2 cm from the tumour. Additionally, the adjacent tissues of the primary focus could be used as a model for assessing cancer progression.