IP‐HPLC serum analysis of potential oncogenic proteins in peri‐implant oral malignancy

Abstract

Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes a group of tumors that exhibit heterogeneous biology, histopathology, and clinical behaviors. Aim/Hypothesis Changes of oncogenic protein expressions in patient diagnosed as peri-implant oral malignancy (PIOM) were observed through immunoprecipitation high performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). Material and Methods A 73-year-old male had a whitish leukoplakia like lesion around inflamed peri-implant area (#42, #43, and #44), and this lesion had transformed to OSCC within three years. He underwent mass resection, selective neck dissection, and reconstructive surgery. To detect any carcinogenesis progression, we examined the removed tumor tissue as well as the patient's preoperative and postoperative sera to identify causative oncogenic proteins using immunoprecipitation high performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). Results The protein expression levels of p53, E-cadherin, β-catenin, MMP-10, HER2, NRAS, Met, HER2, and ERb were significantly lower in the serum collected on postoperative day 10 than in the preoperative serum, and if these proteins are consistently not elevated in the serum three months after surgery compared with the preoperative serum these proteins can be potential oncogenic proteins. However, we also found that the serum extracted three months after the operation had elevated levels of oncogenic proteins compared with that of the preoperative and 10-day postoperative serum indicating the possibility of tumor recurrence. At postoperative follow-up period, ipsilateral neck metastasis and second primary lesion were found, the patient was performed additional surgery. Conclusion and Clinical Implications IP-HPLC using patient`s serum show the possibility of oncogenic protein detection. However, follow-up IP-HPLC data are needed to find out patient-specific prognostic factors.