Objective: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of oral neoplasms. Finding molecular markers for predicting prognosis is a high priority. The core transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG that regulate embryonic stem cell pluripotency have been implicated in progression of various malignancies. The predictive value of these markers and their role in the development of OSCC is still controversial. In this study, we therefore evaluated their expression in OSCCs and adjacent non-tumor tissue. Methods: A total of 60 frozen tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue samples from 30 patients with OSCC were examined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Clinical and pathological data of patients including tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and tumor grade were also recorded. Results: Expression of SOX2 was significantly higher in adjacent non-tumor as compared to tumor tissue (P=0.04). No statistically significant differences were found for expression of OCT4 (P=0.50) and NANOG (P=0.68). Also, there was no significant association between expression of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG and clinical or pathological data (P>0.05), although slightly higher values were noted in patients without lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Based on the present data, decreased expression of SOX2 is correlated with carcinogenesis in the oral cavity and development of OSCC.
Keywords: Gene expression; Nanog; Oct4; SOX2; Squamous Cell Carcinoma.