Characterization Of Protein Expression In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma By MALDI-TOF- A Pilot Case Control Study

Abstract

Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma makes up to 90% of the oral cancer cases. Proteomic profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma will enable better understanding of the proteins expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization- time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) technology was used to analyse the proteins expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials and methods: In this study, serum and plasma samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients (n=5) and apparently healthy individuals (n=5) were collected. The samples were then subjected to MALDI-TOF analysis.  Insilico analysis of the protein-protein interactions was performed by using STRING and CYTOSCAPE.

Results: The proteomic analysis of the plasma and serum of OSCC and control samples resulted in the differential expression of 62 proteins. Two of the plasma proteins FAM71B, Keratin Type II cytoskeletal 1 showed statistically significant expression in OSCC samples. The insilico analysis revealed that the proteins in plasma especially NCOR1, MED22 are known to have high degree of centrality.

Conclusion: The proteomic profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma samples have showed involvement of various proteins that may be potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and targeted therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma.