口腔癌的发病率和死亡率较高，给印度的公共卫生带来了沉重负担。尽管治疗方式取得了进步，但由于局部复发和淋巴结转移等因素（可能受到癌症干细胞的影响），预后仍然很差。在与 CSC 调节相关的信号通路中，Hedgehog 通路在口腔鳞状细胞癌 (OSCC) 中发挥着至关重要的作用。收集了 97 名 OSCC 患者的组织样本，并进行 RNA 分离、cDNA 合成和定量实时 PCR 分析 PTCH1 和SMO 表达。通过免疫组织化学评估蛋白质表达。临床病理学参数与基因和蛋白质表达相关。统计分析包括Pearson卡方检验、相关系数检验、Kaplan-Meier生存分析和ROC曲线分析。PTCH1表达与淋巴管渗透性(p = 0.002)和肿瘤分期(p = 0.002)相关，而SMO表达与与淋巴结状态（p = 0.034）和肿瘤分期（p = 0.021）相关。 PTCH1 基因表达与淋巴结状态相关 (p = 0.024)。 PTCH1 基因高表达与舌癌患者的生存期较短有关。 ROC曲线分析表明PTCH1和SMO基因以及细胞质SMO表达在区分恶性组织和邻近正常组织方面具有诊断潜力。PTCH1和SMO在口腔癌进展中发挥着至关重要的作用，与肿瘤分期和转移潜力相关。尽管不直接影响总生存率，但特定解剖部位的 PTCH1 表达暗示了其预后意义。 PTCH1 和 SMO 表现出诊断潜力，表明它们在口腔癌管理和治疗策略中作为分子标记的实用性。© 2024。作者，获得 Springer Nature B.V. 的独家许可。

Oral cancer poses a significant burden on public health in India, with higher incidence and mortality rates. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, prognosis remains poor due to factors such as localized recurrence and lymph node metastasis, potentially influenced by cancer stem cells. Among signaling pathways implicated in CSC regulation, the Hedgehog pathway plays a crucial role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).97 OSCC patients' tissue samples were collected and subjected to RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and quantitative real-time PCR to analyze PTCH1 and SMO expression. Protein expression was assessed through immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathological parameters were correlated with gene and protein expression. Statistical analysis included Pearson chi-square tests, co-relation co-efficient tests, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and ROC curve analysis.PTCH1 expression correlated with lymphatic permeation (p = 0.002) and tumor stage (p = 0.002), while SMO expression correlated with lymph node status (p = 0.034) and tumor stage (p = 0.021). PTCH1 gene expression correlated with lymph node status (p = 0.024). High PTCH1 gene expression was associated with shorter survival in tongue cancer patients. ROC curve analysis indicated diagnostic potential for PTCH1 and SMO gene and cytoplasmic SMO expression in distinguishing malignant tissues from adjacent normal tissues.PTCH1 and SMO play a crucial role in oral cancer progression, correlating with tumor stages and metastatic potential. Despite not directly influencing overall survival, PTCH1 expression at specific anatomical sites hints at its prognostic implications. PTCH1 and SMO exhibit diagnostic potential, suggesting their utility as molecular markers in oral cancer management and therapeutic strategies.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.