Project description:Head and neck cancers are a complex malignancy comprising multiple anatomical sites, with cancer of the oral cavity ranking among the deadliest and most disfiguring cancers globally. Oral cancer (OC) constitutes a subset of head and neck cancer cases, presenting primarily as tobacco- and alcohol-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with a 5-year survival rate of ~65%, partly due to the lack of early detection and effective treatments. OSCC arises from premalignant lesions (PMLs) in the oral cavity through a multi-step series of clinical and histopathological stages, including varying degrees of epithelial dysplasia. To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with the progression of PMLs to OSCC, we profiled the whole transcriptome of 66 human PMLs comprising leukoplakia with dysplasia and hyperkeratosis non-reactive (HkNR) pathologies, alongside healthy controls and OSCC. Our data revealed that PMLs were enriched in gene signatures associated with cellular plasticity, such as partial EMT (p-EMT) phenotypes, and with immune response. Integrated analyses of the host transcriptome and microbiome further highlighted a significant association between differential microbial abundance and PML pathway activity, suggesting a contribution of the oral microbiome towards PML evolution to OSCC. Collectively, this study reveals molecular processes associated with PML progression that may help early diagnosis and disease interception at an early stage.
Project description:In our previous study, we identified global genetic and epigenetic aberrations in the tumors of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients who were habitual smokers. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke might play a role in oral malignant transformation. DOK cell line is a dysplasitc oral keratinocyte derived from a heavy smoker with OSCC. The differentially expressed genes between DOK and normal human oral keratinocytes (HOK) may provide important information about OSCC carcinogenesis mediated by cigarette smoking. Total RNA was collected from DOK and HOK cells followed by gene expression microarray analysis.
Project description:In our previous study, we identified global genetic and epigenetic aberrations in the tumors of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients who were habitual smokers. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke might play a role in oral malignant transformation. DOK cell line is a dysplasitc oral keratinocyte derived from a heavy smoker with OSCC. The differentially expressed genes between DOK and normal human oral keratinocytes (HOK) may provide important information about OSCC carcinogenesis mediated by cigarette smoking.
