Molecular, protein and functional evaluation of homeobox genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Grant number: 09/07359-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2009
• End date: July 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Daumas Nunes
• Grantee: Camila de Oliveira Rodini Pegoraro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of head and neck, presenting low survival rates and frequent local recurrence. Then, the search for molecular markers to diagnostic improvement, treatment individualization and disease prognosis has been focused in several studies. In view of this, the present study purposes the localization of homeobox genes transcripts by in situ hybridization, using nonradioactive riboprobes, as well as immunolocalize and quantify the protein expression by Western blot, in tongue and/or floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma and the correspondent non-tumoral margins. The homeobox to be analyzed are HOXD10, HOXD11 and IRX4, identified in previous study as over expressed in this tumor. Additionaly, IRX4 gene in vitro overexpression is proposed in SCC( oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line. After these analyses, we aim that the correlation with previous gene expression findings, morphological localization of gene transcripts and protein immuno-expression as well as IRX4 gene functional study contribute to a more precise evaluation of homeobox genes expression patterns regarding cellular population or specific tissue sites, and also the possible contribution of IRX4 gene in malignant phenotype, suggesting its use as prognostic and/or tumoral behavior markers. This will in turn result in direct benefits to oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.