Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma share key oncogenic signatures

Abstract

To investigate similarities in the gene profle of Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma that may justify a carcinogenic potential, we analyzed the gene expression signatures of Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in early and advanced stages. Based on gene expression data from public databases, we used a bioinformatics approach to compare expression profles, estimate immune infltrate composition, identify diferentially and co-expressed genes, and propose putative therapeutic targets and associated drugs. Our results revealed gene expression patterns related to processes of keratinization, keratinocyte diferentiation, cell proliferation and immune response in common between Oral Lichen Planus and early and advanced Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, with the cornifed envelope formation and antigen processing cross-presentation pathways in common between Oral Lichen Planus and early Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Together, these results reveal that key tumor suppressors and oncogenes such as PI3, SPRR1B and KRT17, as well as genes associated with diferent immune processes such as CXCL13, HIF1A and IL1B are dysregulated in OLP.