miRNA profiling expression from oral brushing in OSCC patients

Objectives:microRNAs have recently proposed as potential biomarkers in the early detec-tion of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas (OSCCs) by noninvasive methods.Aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of a panel of miRNAs in epithelialcells collected by oral brushing from OSCCs and their respective normal mucosa in distantareas and from regenerative areas after OSCC surgical resectionMethods:Oral brushing specimens were collected from: 13 OSCC (group 1a) and theirrespective normal mucosa in distant areas (group 1b), 12 samples from regenerative areasafter OSCC surgical resection (group 2a) and their respective normal mucosa in distantareas (group 2b), 17 lichenoid lesions (group 3) and 24 normal mucosa from healthy con-trols (group 4). In all different groups the expression levels of miRNAs were evaluated byreal time PCR. Seven target were evaluated (i.e. mir-21, miR-375, miR-345, miR-181b,miR146a, miR-649, miR-518b). The miRNA expression levels across groups wereassessed by ANOVA statistics or student t test for paired samplesResults:miR345, miR146, miR649 e miR518 showed a significant different expression inOSCC group with respect to healthy donors, but a similar and not significant expressionwith respect to their respective normal mucosa in distant areas (group 1b). MoreovermiR146 showed a significantly different expression in regenerative areas after OSCC sur-gical resection with respect to healthy donors, but not significant difference with respect totheir respective normal mucosa in distant areas. No significant differences were foundbetween lichenoid lesions and healthy donors in any miRNAs analyzed.Conclusions:miRNA analysis in epithelial cells collected by oral brushing has demon-strated the presence an altered profile expression not only in OSCC but also in distantareas from OSCC and in regenerative areas after OSCC surgical resectionRelevance:Analysis of miRNA expression from oral brushing could be proposed as anon invasive method to study oral mucosa in OSCC patients.