Analysis and quantification of gene expression and immunohistochemistry of Calreticulin and analysis of macrophage density in potentially malignant disorders and oral Squamous cell Carcinoma

• Grant number: 22/00775-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Andreia Bufalino
• Grantee: Joyce Araujo Cipriano Bandeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Calreticulin (CRT) is a multifunctional protein that may have anti-oncogenic and oncogenic properties. Although its mechanism in oral cavity neoplasms is not well understood, there are studies that show that the high expression of CRT is associated with poor prognosis. In this context, it should be noted that oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents more than 95% of all malignant neoplasms that affect the oral cavity and these tumors are often preceded by oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), which have an evident potential for malignant transformation. However, there are no studies that have evaluated the expression of CRT in OPMDs. Thus, the present work aims to: (1) to evaluate CRT gene expression in frozen tissues of DPMOs (oral leukoplakia, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, oral lichenoid lesion); (2) to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CRT in DMPOs and ECOC; and (3) analysis of macrophage density (CD68+ and CD163+) by immunohistochemical staining in DPMOs and ECOC, to correlate these markers with the intensity of CRT labeling. Additionally, fragments of healthy oral mucosa with the non-neoplastic inflammatory process (inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia) will be used as controls. The data will be tabulated and later analyzed in the IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0 software, taking into account the significance level of 95% (p=0.05).(AU)