SPINK7 Expression Changes Accompanied by HER2, P53 and RB1 Can Be Relevant to Predict Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma at Molecular Level

The oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) affects patients worldwide with a high morbidity rate. Changes of SPINK7 in precancerous lesions could promote oncogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate SPINK7 as a potential molecular biomarker predictive of OSCC stages, compared with: HER2, TP53, RB1, NFKB and CYP4B1. Oral biopsies from patients with dysplasia (n=33), less invasive (n=28) and highly invasive OSCC (n=18) were used. 20 cases with a clinical suspicion but normal mucosa confirmed were the control. Gene levels of SPINK7, P53, RB, NFKB and CYP4B1 were quantified by qPCR. SPINK7 levels were correlated with a cohort of 330 patients from the TCGA. Also, SPINK7, HER2, TP53, and RB1, were evaluated by immunohistofluorescence. One-way Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's post-hoc with a p<0.05 significance was used to data analyze. In OSCC, SPINK7 expression was down regulated and P53, RB, NFKB and CYP4B1 were up regulated (p<0.001). Also, SPINK7 was diminished in TCGA patients (p=2.10e-6). In less invasive OSCC, SPINK7 and HER2 proteins were decreased and TP53 and RB1 increased respect to others groups (p<0.05). Our results suggest that SPINK7 changes accompanied of HER2, P53 and RB1 can be used to classify the molecular stage of OSCC lesions, allowing a diagnosis to molecular and histopathological level.