Project description:Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide including the Asian subcontinent. Oral carcinoma exhibits inherent heterogeneity in terms of the sites involved, etiology and pathology. They occur at multiple sites such as tongue, buccal mucosa, maxilla. Effective approaches towards improving survival rates in OSCC patients are primarily focused on early detection of the disease. The early clinical indication of the disease follows the development of potentially malignant lesions (leukoplakia/erythro-leukoplakia) with varied rates of transformation. Currently histopathological evaluation of oral biopsy is generally practiced to evaluate potential malignancy. However, human saliva has been considered to be a valuable medium for discovering biomarker molecules for malignancy. Exfoliated cancer cells may release protein or RNA molecules into the saliva or free molecules may be secreted or leaked from cancer cells representing gene expression changes associated with tumor development. Salivary proteins thus provide a strong option for development of non-invasive, point-of-care assays for screening/early detection of oral cancers. Dysplastic leukoplakia (LP) of the oral cavity is a potentially malignant condition for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), early detection of which is an unmet clinical need. In an effort to develop non-invasive biomarker based method for early detection of the disease, we have used quantitative mass spectrometry to identify differently abundant salivary proteins in OSCC (buccal mucosa) patients and individuals with potential to develop cancer (oral dysplastic leukoplakia) in comparison to healthy controls (with risk habits such as tobacco chewing or smoking).
Project description:The purpose of this study was to isolate NCSCs from oral mucosa using the neurosphere technique. Total RNA from human oral mucosa stromal cells and sphere-formig oral mucosa stromal cells was collected and compared at their gene expression level. Samples from 3 patients were analysed.
Project description:Identification of genes that are differentially regulated in fibroblasts derived from dysplastic oral mucosa and oral squamous cell carcinoma compared to fibroblasts derived from normal oral mucosa. Affymetrix microarrays were used to define differential gene expression. Populations of fibroblasts were isolated from human normal oral mucosa, oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma, maintained in 3D collagen I biomatrices, RNA extracted and processed for Affymetrix arrays. Fibroblasts maintained as monolayers were also included as comparators.
Project description:Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) targets include the oral mucosa and salivary glands after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Without incisional biopsy, no diagnostic test exists to confirm oral cGVHD. Consequently, therapy is often withheld until severe manifestations develop. This proteomic study examined saliva and human salivary gland for a biomarker profile at first onset of oral cGVHD prior to initiation of topical steroid therapy. Whole saliva collected at onset of biopsy-proven oral GVHD was assessed using liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry with identification of 569 proteins, of which 77 significantly changed in abundance. ZG16B, a secretory lectin protein, was reduced 2-fold in oral cGVHD saliva (p < 0.05), and significantly decreased in salivary gland secretory cells affected by cGVHD. Single-cell RNAseq analysis of healthy MSG localized ZG16B expression to two discreet acinar cell populations. Reduced expression of ZG16B may indicate specific cGVHD activity, general salivary gland dysfunction.
