Potential of IP-10, EGFR, CK17 and ANXA1 as Non-Invasive  Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abdolreza  Mohamadnia; Mahta  Malek; Hossein  Dargahi; Mehdi Kazem Pour  Dizaji; Mahsa  Sadat  Seid Saleh; Seyed Shahab  Banihashem; Mohammad  Bayat; Farnoosh  Mohammadi; Naghmeh  Bahrami

doi:10.18502/jcr.v13i1.21577

Abdolreza Mohamadnia Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahta Malek Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein Dargahi Department of Management Sciences and Health Economic, Health Information Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mehdi Kazem Pour Dizaji Mycobacteriology Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahsa Sadat Seid Saleh Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Shahab Banihashem Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Bayat Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farnoosh Mohammadi Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Naghmeh Bahrami Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jcr.v13i1.21577

Keywords: Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Peripheral blood; Gene expression; EGFR; CK17; IP-10; ANXA1; Real-time PCR.

Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Early diagnosis and the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for disease monitoring are essential. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in inflammation (IP-10), cellular proliferation (EGFR), epithelial differentiation (CK17), and cellular regulation (ANXA1) in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients compared with healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods: In this case–control study, peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 OSCC patients and 30 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed into cDNA. Relative expression levels of IP-10 (CXCL10), EGFR, CK17, and ANXA1 were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.

Results: The expression levels of EGFR and CK17 were significantly increased in OSCC patients compared with controls (p < 0.001). Similarly, IP-10 expression was significantly upregulated in the patient group (p < 0.001). In contrast, ANXA1expression was significantly downregulated in OSCC patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The altered expression patterns of IP-10, EGFR, CK17, and ANXA1 in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients indicate the potential of these markers as non-invasive molecular diagnostic biomarkers. The concurrent upregulation of EGFR and CK17 may play a critical role in tumor progression, while the downregulation of ANXA1 may reflect impaired anti-inflammatory and apoptotic processes. These findings support the future application of PCR-based blood tests for OSCC screening or monitoring; however, further confirmatory studies are recommended.