Study on mRNA expression of Cajal body – Gemini of coiled body proteins in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: The role of proteins of Cajal bodies (CB) and its identical twin, Gemini of coiled bodies (GEMs) in maintaining genomic integrity and its influence on the initiation, progression, and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is gaining attention. We attempted to identify the CB and GEM-associated proteins (CB-GEMs) expression in HNSCC patients and study the influence of gender, TP53 mutation, age, and tobacco use on such expression. Material and Methods: TP53 mutation, tobacco use, gender, and mRNA levels of CB-GEM proteins of 520 HNSCC cases were collected and subjected to differential expression (DE) analysis. The resultant DE genes were used to create a transcriptional factor gene network using encode chip sequential data. Pathway analysis of the network was performed and presented. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: For smoking, the genes GEMIN8, FMR1, TRIM22, and FBL emerged as significantly DE genes. For gender, EAF1, GEMIN8, ZC3H8, TRIM22, FBL, LSG1, ZNF473, GMNC, GEMIN2, ISG20, Opa interacting protein 5, GMNN, and CDK2 were DE gene with statistical significance. For TP53, 15 genes were DE with statistical significance. Transcriptional misregulation in cancer was the frequently affected pathway. The CB-GEM bodies are effective highly conserved, splicesomal organelles that are needed for proper mRNA assembly. Certain mRNA of proteins of the CB-GEM bodies is influenced by TP53 status, gender, and tobacco use. Conclusion: The DE of CB-GEM bodies related protein in HNSCC patients are presented. Furthermore, we identified certain critical pathways, where the DE genes of CB-GEM bodies exert critical influence on HNSCC characteristics. This could potentially alter the HNSCC progression, treatment response, and prognosis.