Investigation of the NF-κB, TRAF1, and TRAF2 Relative Gene Expressions in a Population of Iranian Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case-Control Study

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a frequently prevalent subtype of oral cancer with late detection and diagnosis and an elevated mortality rate. It can be triggered via genetic and environmental factors, creating several patient difficulties. The main concern is to comprehend the interaction between variables to explain the regulation of oral cancer, as well as the process of its occurrence. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) belongs to a class of induced transcription factors, controlling various genes responsible for several aspects of inflammation and immunological processes. It is regulated through diverse genes, such as TNF receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1) and TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). The disruption of this pathway may contribute to various health problems.

Eighteen paraffin-embedded oral cancer tissues and 18 oral mucosae tissues were applied to evaluate gene expression profiles via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in a population in Southeast Iran.

NF-κB (95% CI = -0.804 to -0.222, p-value = 0.001), TRAF1 (95% CI = -3.201 to -1.018, p-value < 0.0001), and TRAF2 (95% CI = -1.802 to -0.86, p-value = 0.019) gene expressions were revealed a strong correlation with OSCC.

Our findings revealed that the increased gene expression levels of NF-κB, TRAF1, and TRAF2 are closely linked to clinical manifestations in OSCC.