ANALYSIS OF MICRORNAS EXPRESSION PROFILE IN SALIVA OF PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a disease with high incidence and mortality, and the sixth most common cancer in worldwide. The diagnosis is usually performed late, after the appearance of visible lesions. The discovery of altered epigenetic profiles in cancer awakened to new paradigms by which molecular mechanisms contribute significantly to the carcinogenesis. To date, have been described miRNAs 800 and it is estimated that they can influence the expression of up to one third of human genes. The deregulation of the expression of miRNAs can directly influence cell proliferation and differentiation and therefore they can itself act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor. The purpose of this project is to compare the miRNAs profiles in saliva samples from individuals without cancer, patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma collected at diagnosis and after curative treatment in order to identify signatures of specific miRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma that may be useful as markers of prognosis of patients affected by this type of cancer.