MicroRNA nel Carcinoma Squamoso del cavo orale e nelle lesioni potenzialmente maligne: dalla scoperta biologica all'utilità clinica.

One of the most interesting challenges in cancer research is the identification of biomarkers to predict the risk of malignant transformation and metastasis in patients with cancer. The identification of biomarkers, such as microRNA (miRNA), in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is becoming fundamental to avoid the genesis and growth of the tumor and metastasis, and thus for the prophylactic intervention in the high-risk patients. A retrospective study of miRNA expression was conducted in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples with known clinical outcome and in cell lines. Samples comprised normal oral mucosa, OSCC that did not develop metastasis, metastatic OSCC and the relatives presurgical biopsies, cell lines and oral potentially malignant lesions. RNA was extracted from microdissected 20 µm thick sections and miRNA quantitative expression analysis was performed, using NCodemiRNA first-strand cDNA synthesis and qRT-PCR Kits using Locked Nucleic Acid modified primers. Some miRNA were found to be over and underexpressed in all samples. Our findings suggest that some miRNAs are correlated to an invasive behavior in OSCC and in OPML. The detection of these novel biomarkers can guide the surgeon to prevent the development of the tumor and lymph-node metastasis and to a better management of the patients.