Validation of target proteins associated with the progression of potentially malignant disorders into Oral Cancer

Abstract

Oral Cancer accounts for 2.0% of all new Cancer cases and approximately 90% are Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC). The main risk factors for oral SCC are excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption, leading to a complex carcinogenic process. Oral SCC often evolves from potentially malignant disorders such as Oral Leukoplakia (OL), which is one of the most prevalent, and Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia (PVL), which is characterized by high rates of malignant transformation and recurrence. OL occurs mainly in men, smokers and alcohol users, while PVL is characterized by female preference with no direct correlation with smoking and alcoholism. Due to the high prevalence of OL and to the high degree of PVL aggressiveness, the search for possible biomarkers would aid in an early diagnosis of the lesions, as well as assist in predicting the risk of malignant transformation. A recent unpublished study conducted in the group analyzed saliva samples from 58 patients with active lesions of OL, PVL, SCC, and control by discovery-based proteomics and identified 41 proteins differentially expressed between the groups. Thus, the objective of the present project is to continue this study through the verification of common proteins between lesions of OL, PVL, and SCC in saliva and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) of biopsies, which will be analyzed by target-based proteomics, as well as the biopsy samples will be evaluated by immunohistochemistry. At the end of the study, it is expected to have verified salivary, EVs, and tissue proteins to be used in clinical practice in the future, assisting in the early diagnosis of lesions and in the indication of the risk of malignancy of OL and PVL lesions, improving the prognosis of such patients. (AU)