Abstract for presentation at 13th International Congress on Oral Pathology and Medicine

Gene expression profiling of two oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines compared with normal oral mucosal epithelium using cDNA microarray

  • Mark Schifter, Westmead Hospital, Australia
  • Sue-Ching Yeoh, University of Sydney, Australia
  • Hedley Coleman, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Australia
  • Hans Zoellner, University of Sydney, Australia
  • Sheena Chan, Cellular and Molecular Pathology Research Unit, Discipline of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, United States

    • Purpose: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents the most frequent malignancy of the oral cavity. The overall 5 year survival rate of oral cancer patients has not improved significantly over the past two decades, despite the significant advances with multimodality treatment. The identification of genetic alterations associated with OSCC has been the basis of understanding of how normal cells become malignant. cDNA microarray analysis is a useful technique that allows the comparison of a large number of previously identified genes simultaneously, showing the relative over- or under-expression of genes in malignant cells compared with normal cells. The aim of this study is to identify genes associated with oral carcinogenesis by comparing the relative gene expression of OSCC with normal oral epithelium by cDNA microarray.
    Methods: Two OSCC cell lines were grown in culture, and a normal oral keratinocyte cell line was established from a primary explant of normal human gingiva. Total RNA was isolated, and converted to cDNA by reverse transcription. Samples were labelled with fluorescent dyes, and hybridised onto an 8K human genome array (AGRF). Arrays were scanned and the data analysed.
    Results: Several genes were identified to be over expressed in the OSCC cell lines compared with the normal oral keratinocytes. These genes were associated with cell growth and proliferation, as well as angiogenesis.
    Conclusion: Gene profiling by microarray shows promise for imrpoved prognostication in patients with OSCC, and to identify genes that could serve as biomarkers and as potential targets for biological therapy.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd