Evaluating the performance of fibronectin 1 (FN1), integrin α4β1 (ITGA4), syndecan-2 (SDC2), and glycoprotein CD44 as the potential biomarkers of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)

Abstract

Objectives: Some extracellular matrix genes as prognostic biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were evaluated.

Methods: We investigated gene expression of fibronectin 1 (FN1), integrin α4β1 (ITGA4), syndecan-2 (SDC2), and glycoprotein CD44 in matched OSCC/margin tissues.

Results: Areas under receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of relative mRNA expression of FN1, ITGA4, SDC2, and CD44 were 0.700, 0.677, 0.513, and 0.549, respectively. For tongue/mouth floor and edentulous ridge, AUC for FN1 and ITGA4 were 0.827 and 0.725 and sensitivities/specificities were 80%/84% and 88%/52%, respectively.

Conclusion: FN1 and ITGA4 are potential OSCC biomarkers for tongue/mouth floor and edentulous ridge.

Keywords::

• Oral squamous cell carcinoma
• tumor marker
• extracellular matrix
• receiver-operating characteristic curves
• fibronectin 1
• integrin α4β1
• syndecan-2
• glycoprotein CD44