Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Early diagnosis and the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for disease monitoring are essential. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in inflammation (IP-10), cellular proliferation (EGFR), epithelial differentiation (CK17), and cellular regulation (ANXA1) in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients compared with healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: In this case–control study, peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 OSCC patients and 30 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed into cDNA. Relative expression levels of IP-10 (CXCL10), EGFR, CK17, and ANXA1 were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: The expression levels of EGFR and CK17 were significantly increased in OSCC patients compared with controls (p < 0.001). Similarly, IP-10 expression was significantly upregulated in the patient group (p < 0.001). In contrast, ANXA1expression was significantly downregulated in OSCC patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The altered expression patterns of IP-10, EGFR, CK17, and ANXA1 in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients indicate the potential of these markers as non-invasive molecular diagnostic biomarkers. The concurrent upregulation of EGFR and CK17 may play a critical role in tumor progression, while the downregulation of ANXA1 may reflect impaired anti-inflammatory and apoptotic processes. These findings support the future application of PCR-based blood tests for OSCC screening or monitoring; however, further confirmatory studies are recommended.  Keywords: Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Peripheral blood; Gene expression; EGFR; CK17; IP-10; ANXA1; Real-time PCR.