Liquid Biopsy: Examination of platelet RNA obtained from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients for molecular tumor markers. Liquid Biopsy: Examination of platelet RNA obtained from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients for molecular tumor markers

The present study aims to clarify whether patients suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) could be recognized based on platelet mRNA sequencing (RNAseq). Sequencing analysis of RNA derived from platelets of tumor patients and healthy donors revealed significantly differentially expressed RNA encoding 618 genes. Among them, we identified RNA coding for 49 genes characteristically expressed in epithelial cells. Additionally, in tumor patient’s platelets we observed RNA coding for genes involved in tumor progression by contributing to proliferation, metastasis or angiogenesis. Furthermore, 41 non-coding RNAs involved in transcription and translation have been identified. Results were verified by quantitative RT-PCR on platelet RNA derived from a second tumor patient / healthy donor cohort. However, in order to identify a combination of a certain set of genes allowing the identification of HNSCC based on platelet RNAseq further research is necessary. Overall design: 15 samples in total: 5 blood platelet of tumor patients, 5 blood platelet of healthy donors, 5 tumor tissue of patients

本研究旨在明确是否可基于血小板mRNA测序（RNAseq）识别头颈部鳞状细胞癌（head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, HNSCC）患者。对肿瘤患者与健康供者的血小板来源RNA进行测序分析，共鉴定出618个编码基因的RNA存在显著差异表达。其中，我们鉴定出49个编码上皮细胞特征性表达基因的RNA。此外，在肿瘤患者的血小板中，我们还观察到编码参与肿瘤进展相关基因的RNA，这类基因可通过促进细胞增殖、转移或血管生成推动肿瘤进程。进一步而言，本研究还鉴定出41个参与转录与翻译过程的非编码RNA。上述研究结果通过对第二组肿瘤患者/健康供者队列的血小板RNA进行定量RT-PCR（quantitative RT-PCR）验证。然而，若要基于血小板RNAseq筛选出可用于识别HNSCC的特定基因组合，仍需开展进一步研究。整体实验设计：共包含15份样本，其中5份为肿瘤患者血小板样本、5份为健康供者血小板样本、5份为患者肿瘤组织样本。