Role of endo-calreticulin in the malignant transformation of dysplastic cells.

• Grant number: 24/15059-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Andreia Bufalino
• Grantee: Nathalia Caetano Marques
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Calreticulin (CRT) is a multifunctional protein whose elevated expression has frequently been associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics and poorer prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). It is important to highlight that many cases of OSCC may develop from the malignant transformation of an oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD), such as oral leukoplakia. However, the correlation between CRT expression in OPMDs and progression to OSCC has not yet been investigated, emphasizing the need for studies exploring the role of CRT in these contexts. Additionally, one of the major challenges related to OPMDs is predicting which lesions will indeed progress to malignancy. In this regard, the occurrence of an OPMD in non-smoking women, located on the tongue and the floor of the mouth, with a non- homogeneous clinical appearance and a histopathological profile marked by high grades of oral epithelial dysplasia, are the only factors proven to be associated with malignant transformation. Therefore, the execution of future studies aimed at identifying potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of these cases is indispensable. The objective of this study is to evaluate the in vitro biological effects of stable CRT overexpression in an oral dysplastic keratinocyte cell line on the modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion.