114 Blood-borne exosomes as biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

The strongest risk factors for developing HNSCC are human papillomavirus infection and alcohol/tobacco use. latter gives rise to a clinically aggressive tumor with poor prognosis, creating an urgent need effective screening strategies. Exosomes, or small extracellular vesicles (sEV), their content emerging as potential cancer biomarkers. Here, CD9/63/81 positive sEV were isolated from circulating plasma of patients healthy volunteers by immunoaffinity purification characterized Western blot Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. subjected Luminex Multiplex profiling 12 well-established cancer-specific antigens. Several known biomarkers detected at high levels on the surface HPV(-) sEV, including CA125, ß-HCG, HE4, which HE4 was confirmed blotting. Interestingly, is protease inhibitor that may serve protect degradation. miRNet target analysis revealed several miRNAs such miR-146a-5p. KEGG pathway determined these had highest number shared targets in pathways cancer. Additional GO:BP showed also numerous regulation DNA binding. qPCR miRNAseq blood-borne low miR-146a HNSCC. Collectively, this data demonstrates correlation between miR-146a, aggressiveness These combined studies suggest components, could be source provide improvements diagnosis treatment.