Potential of phosphatase and tensin gene polymorphisms as salivary biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma – A cross-sectional study

Background: PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue) is a tumour suppressor gene which is well known for its negative regulation on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, thereby controlling the cellular growth and proliferation in the process of carcinogenesis. In the present study, the frequency of the genotypes of the PTEN gene, (rs2943773, rs1234224, rs9651495, rs3827678, and rs11202600) has been observed in individuals with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). Methodology: Saliva samples were collected from healthy individuals and individuals with OSCC. DNA extraction was done, followed by PCR using fluidigmn technique to observe the frequency of the genotypes. Results: Variation was observed in the distribution of frequencies of the alleles (rs9651495 and rs1234224) of the PTEN gene between the healthy individual and those with occurrence of OSCC. The other genotypes did not show any statistically significant difference in the distribution between the study group and the control group, nor any association was observed with OSCC. Conclusion: The variation in the frequency of rs9651495 and rs1234224 of the PTEN gene suggests an association between the "PTEN" gene and "OSCC" and hence its use in the panel of diagnostic markers. This also opens the field for future research in the therapeutic applications of the PTEN gene. Keywords: Oral squamous cell carcinoma, polymorphism, PTEN gene