Evaluating the performance of fibronectin 1 (FN1), integrin α4β1 (ITGA4), syndecan-2 (SDC2), and glycoprotein CD44 as the potential biomarkers of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)

Objectives: Some extracellular matrix genes as prognostic biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were evaluated. Methods: We investigated gene expression of fibronectin 1 (FN1), integrin α4β1 (ITGA4), syndecan-2 (SDC2), and glycoprotein CD44 in matched OSCC/margin tissues. Results: Areas under receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of relative mRNA expression of FN1, ITGA4, SDC2, and CD44 were 0.700, 0.677, 0.513, and 0.549, respectively. For tongue/mouth floor and edentulous ridge, AUC for FN1 and ITGA4 were 0.827 and 0.725 and sensitivities/specificities were 80%/84% and 88%/52%, respectively. Conclusion: FN1 and ITGA4 are potential OSCC biomarkers for tongue/mouth floor and edentulous ridge.