Identification of HOX signatures contributing to oral cancer phenotype

The Potential MicroRNA Diagnostic Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the tongue is a common type of head and neck malignancy with a poor prognosis, underscoring the urgency for early detection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have remarkable stability and are easily measurable. Thus, miRNAs may be a promising biomarker candidate among biomarkers in cancer diagnosis. Biomarkers have the potential to facilitate personalized medicine approaches by guiding treatment decisions and optimizing therapy regimens for individual patients. Utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we identified 13 differentially expressed upregulated miRNAs in OSCC of the tongue. Differentially expressed miRNAs were analyzed by enrichment analysis to reveal underlying biological processes, pathways, or functions. Furthermore, we identified miRNAs associated with the progression of OSCC of the tongue, utilizing receiver operating characteristic analysis to evaluate their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. A total of 13 upregulated miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed in OSCC of the tongue. Five of these miRNAs had high diagnostic power. In particular, miR-196b has the potential to serve as one of the most effective diagnostic biomarkers. Then, functional enrichment analysis for the target gene of miR-196b was performed, and a protein-protein interaction network was constructed. This study assessed an effective approach for identifying miRNAs as early diagnostic markers for OSCC of the tongue.

Role of HOXA1-4 in the development of genetic and malignant diseases

The HOXA genes, belonging to the HOX family, encompass 11 members (HOXA1-11) and exert critical functions in early embryonic development, as well as various adult processes. Furthermore, dysregulation of HOXA genes is implicated in genetic diseases, heart disease, and various cancers. In this comprehensive overview, we primarily focused on the HOXA1-4 genes and their associated functions and diseases. Emphasis was placed on elucidating the impact of abnormal expression of these genes and highlighting their significance in maintaining optimal health and their involvement in the development of genetic and malignant diseases. Furthermore, we delved into their regulatory mechanisms, functional roles, and underlying biology and explored the therapeutic potential of targeting HOXA1-4 genes for the treatment of malignancies. Additionally, we explored the utility of HOXA1-4 genes as biomarkers for monitoring cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Spatial transcriptomics reveals distinct and conserved tumor core and edge architectures that predict survival and targeted therapy response

The spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment has a profound impact on biology and therapy response. Here, we perform an integrative single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis on HPV-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to comprehensively characterize malignant cells in tumor core (TC) and leading edge (LE) transcriptional architectures. We show that the TC and LE are characterized by unique transcriptional profiles, neighboring cellular compositions, and ligand-receptor interactions. We demonstrate that the gene expression profile associated with the LE is conserved across different cancers while the TC is tissue specific, highlighting common mechanisms underlying tumor progression and invasion. Additionally, we find our LE gene signature is associated with worse clinical outcomes while TC gene signature is associated with improved prognosis across multiple cancer types. Finally, using an in silico modeling approach, we describe spatially-regulated patterns of cell development in OSCC that are predictably associated with drug response. Our work provides pan-cancer insights into TC and LE biology and interactive spatial atlases ( http://www.pboselab.ca/spatial_OSCC/ ; http://www.pboselab.ca/dynamo_OSCC/ ) that can be foundational for developing novel targeted therapies.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition augments the T cell response against HOXB7-expressing tumor through human leukocyte antigen upregulation

Homeobox B7 (HOXB7) is a master regulatory gene that regulates cell proliferation and activates oncogenic pathways. Overexpression of HOXB7 correlates with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis in patients with cancer. However, the expression and role of HOXB7 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain unclear. In this study, we observed that most samples from patients with oropharyngeal cancer and HNSCC expressed HOXB7. As no direct inhibitor has been reported, we identified a potent peptide epitope to target HOXB7-expressing tumors through immune cells. A novel HOXB7-derived peptide epitope (HOXB7_8-25 ) elicited antigen-specific and tumor-reactive promiscuous CD4⁺ T cell responses. These CD4⁺ T cells produced γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and had the direct ability to kill tumors through granzyme B. Notably, downregulation of HOXB7 using siRNA enhanced human leukocyte antigen class II expression on tumor cells by decreasing the phosphorylation of MAPK. Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition augmented IFN-γ production by HOXB7-reactive CD4⁺ T cell responses without decreasing the expression of HOXB7. These results suggest that combining HOXB7 peptide-based vaccine with MAPK inhibitors could be an effective immunological strategy for cancer treatment.