Analysis of the mechanisms involved in the proliferation and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma by whole transcriptome sequencing

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for approximately 90% of malignant epithelial tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region. OSCC has a high rate of metastasis and poor prognosis. The specific process of oral mucosal carcinogenesis and progression is very complicated. Methods Five OSCC patients' cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues were collected for whole transcriptome sequencing analysis to screen differentially expressed mRNA, long-stranded noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) and bioinformatics [gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis with genomic database (KEGG) pathway analysis and transcript enrichment analysis, etc.]. Target molecules closely associated with oral squamous cell carcinogenesis, migration, and invasion were identified using a miRNA-circRNA association network. Results We screened 2310 mRNAs differentially expressed in cancer and paraneoplastic tissues, of which 1019 were upregulated and 1291 were downregulated; 14216 differentially expressed lncRNAs, of which 8829 were upregulated and 5387 were downregulated; and 167 differentially expressed circRNAs, of which 18 were upregulated and 149 were downregulated. Oral squamous cell carcinoma cells had a higher level of hsa circ 0001847 expression than hok cells (P < 0.05). Reduced hsa circ 0001847 expression inhibited oral squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness (P < 0.05). Conclusion OSCC tissues contain differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, and these differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs may be involved in the development of OSCC.