AbstractHead and Neck Cancer (HNC) is a heterogeneous group of cancers, which includes
cancers arising in the oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and
larynx. Epidemiological studies have revealed that several factors such as
tobacco and alcohol use, exposure to environmental pollutants, viral infection,
and genetic factors are risk factors for developing HNC. The squamous cell
carcinoma of oral tongue (SCCOT), which is significantly more aggressive than
the other forms of oral squamous cell carcinoma, presents a propensity for rapid
local invasion and spread, and a high recurrence rate. Dysregulation in the
epigenetic machinery of cancer cells might help uncover the mechanisms of SCOOT
tumorigenesis. Here, we used DNA methylation changes to identify cancer-specific
enhancers that were enriched for specific transcription factor binding sites
(TFBS), and potential master regulator transcription factors (MRTF) associated
with SCCOT. We identified the activation of MRTFs associated with increased
invasiveness, metastasis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, poor prognosis,
and stemness. On the other hand, we found the downregulation of MRTFs associated
with tumor suppression. The identified MRTFs should be further investigated to
clarify their role in oral cancer tumorigenesis and for their potential use as
biological markers.