Oral squamous cell carcinoma, tumor budding, biomarker

Analysis of cancer treatment resistance factors

Cervical lymph node metastasis is an extremely important prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Many predictors of cervical lymph node metastasis have been investigated, but no consensus has been reached. The applicant aims to find a biomarker to predict tumor budding and apply it to clinical practice, since tumor budding correlates with lymph node metastasis. In the process, he found that tumor budding is a phenomenon seen when partial EMT occurs due to the influence of the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, he created several experimental systems to induce partial EMT in vitro and in vivo, making it possible to reproduce partial EMT, which was previously conceptual. In this application, he focuses on the production and degradation of Laminin332 during partial EMT, and searches for biomarkers that reflect budding and the degree of invasion. This will allow budding and poor YK classification, which are usually identified by postoperative histopathological observation, to be identified preoperatively, making it possible to customize surgical adaptations in surgical resections.

We discovered that tumor budding is a phenomenon that occurs when partial EMT occurs due to the influence of the tumor microenvironment, and established several in vitro and in vivo experimental systems that can reproduce partial EMT, which was previously conceptual.

The in vitro experimental system for induction of partial EMT in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) should provide a good tool for understanding partial EMT, which has only been conceptualized, from a cell biological perspective and for elucidating the phenomenon of tumor budding, which is related to life prognosis.

Usually, buddings and poor YK classification groups that are evident from postoperative histopathological observations are identified preoperatively, making it possible to tailor surgical indications for surgical resection.

The research methods and biomarker discovery methods obtained in this study can also be applied to treatment strategies for digestive cancers, including colorectal cancer, where tumor budding is clearly stated in the guidelines as a prognostic factor.

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