PEST-Containing Nuclear Protein Expression in Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

High PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) results in higher overall patient survival, increased tumor stiffness, and decreased migration and invasion, according to a study published in Frontiers in Oncology.

Researchers aimed to explore the relationship between PCNP expression and differentiation of OSCC using Bio-AFM to examine the histomorphological and mechanical properties of OSCC. Tumor samples were collected from 77 patients with OSCC who were registered in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery between February 2017 and October 2021. The samples were visualized using immunohistochemistry, eosin staining, and cellular mechanical measurement. The expression of PCNP and mechanical properties were determined, and PCNP expression was assessed with patient survival.

PCNP expression was related to overall survival in patients with OSCC, with a 72.1% survival rate in the low-expression group and 98% in the high-expression group at 1 year. The 3-year survival rates were 11.7% in the low-expression group and 72.6 in the high-expression group. High PCNP expression was also associated with high tumor differentiation. As the degree of tumor differentiation increased, the tissue stiffness increased.

“In summary, our research reveals a correlation between PCNP expression and biomechanical and clinical characteristics of OSCC,” concluded the study authors. “High PCNP levels were associated with higher overall patient survival. Additionally, high PCNP expression was associated with increased tumor stiffness and roughness and decreased migration and invasion,” they added.

Reference
Zhang L, Guo D, Shen J, et al. Tissue mechanics modulate PCNP expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas with different differentiation. Front Oncol. 2023;12:1072276. doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.1072276