miR-99a-5p as a biomarker for lymph node metastasis prediction in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

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Cousseau, Cristiane Pereira Vargas ; Sorroche, Bruna Pereira ; Teixeira, Renan de Jesus ; de Carvalho, Ana Carolina ; Melendez, Matias Eliseo ; Capuzzo, Renato de Castro ; Laus, Ana Carolina ; da Silva, Luciane Sussuchi ; de Menezes, Nei Soares ; Carvalho, Andre Lopes ; Arantes, Lidia Maria Rebolho Batista

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK; v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-07-31.

Abstract

BackgroundMetastatic lymph node involvement influences therapy decisions and serves as a prognostic indicator in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, many early-stage patients with clinically negative lymph nodes exhibit no metastasis upon surgical staging. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs capable of distinguishing pathologically positive (pN+) from negative (pN0) nodes in OSCC patients without clinical evidence of lymph node metastases (cN0). MethodsExpression levels of 798 miRNAs were assessed in tumor samples from 10 pN+ and 10 pN0 patients using the Nanostring nCounter platform. Validation was performed in an independent cohort of 15 pN+ and 24 pN0 patients through RT-qPCR. ResultsEight miRNAs exhibited differential expression between pN0 and pN+ patients. Notably, hsa-miR-99a-5p demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in predicting patients at higher risk of positive lymph nodes. ConclusionsThese findings highlight hsa-miR-99a-5p as a potential biomarker for detecting lymph node metastasis in primary OSCC tumors. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/03706-0 - Promoter methylation profile of surgical margins from patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
• Grantee: Bruna Pereira Sorroche
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master