Novel DNA methylation targets in oral rinse samples predict survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

SummaryObjectivesThe objective of this study was to identify novel survival-associated biomarkers in oral rinse samples collected from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Materials and methodsWe screened for putative survival-associated markers using publicly available methylation array data from 88 OSCC tumors. Cox models were then fit to methylation array data restricted to these putative loci in oral rinse samples of 82 OSCC patients from greater Boston. Pyrosequencing assays were designed for each locus that replicated in the oral rinse samples and applied to a validation set of oral rinse samples from another 61 OSCC patients.ResultsWe identified 7 survival-associated methylation markers in oral rinse samples from OSCC patients, and have validated one, located in the body of GABBR1, by pyrosequencing.ConclusionThe 7 CpG loci identified through this study represent novel prognostic biomarkers for patients with OSCC that can be detected using a non-invasive oral rinse collection technique.