Abstract:
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a leading malignancy with high mortality and poor prognosis. Dysregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress response (ERSR) genes and circular RNAs (circRNAs) contributes to its tumorigenesis and progression.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of ERSR-related genes and circRNAs in OSCC tissues and their role in disease pathogenesis.
Methods: A case-control study analyzed biopsy-confirmed OSCC tissues (n=25) and adjacent non-tumor tissues (n=25). Patient demographics, tumor location, histopathology, and TNM staging were recorded. Expression levels of ERSR genes (GRP78, CHOP, ATF6) and circ RNAs (CirRNA-CDR1S, CirRNA10036) were quantified using qRT-PCR. Relative fold changes were calculated using the 2?(ΔCT) method, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: The cohort included predominantly males (23:2), mean age 40±10.3 years. Risk factors included tobacco chewing (88%), smoking (64%), and alcohol consumption (36%). Tumors were located in the buccal mucosa (60%), tongue (28%), alveolus (8%), and lip (4%), with moderate (68%), well (28%), and poorly differentiated (4%) histopathology. Staging included T0 (8%), T1 (4%), T2 (40%), T3 (28%), and T4 (20%), with lymph node involvement in 36% (N+). Significant over expression was observed in OSCC tissues compared to non-tumor tissues: CirRNA-CDR1S (4.14-fold, p=0.048), CirRNA10036 (3.41-fold, p=0.034), ATF6 (4.71-fold, p=0.036), GRP78 (3.8-fold, p=0.03), and CHOP (1.63-fold, p=0.043).
Conclusion: ERSR genes and circRNAs are significantly up regulated in OSCC tissues, underscoring their role in tumorigenesis and progression. These findings warrant further validation in larger cohorts.
Keywords: OSCC, ERSR, Circular RNAs (Circ RNAs), Tumorigenesis, Gene expression.
