Linc-ROR genetic variants are associated with the advanced disease in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the association between linc-ROR genetic variants and oral squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis.

Design: Four genetic variants of linc-ROR (rs6420545, rs4801078, rs1942348, and rs9636089) were analyzed in 178 OSCCs and 191 controls of the South Indian population by PCR amplification followed by restriction digestion. In addition, we examined whether these variants alter linc-ROR expression levels and the progression of OSCC.

Results: The frequency of linc-ROR rs6420545 and rs4801078 genotypes were significantly associated with advanced tumor grade (>2) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.048), and nodal metastasis (p = 0.001 and p = 0.019), respectively. We observed a significant association of rs6420545 specifically in the over-dominant model [OR 1.77 (95%CI; 1.17-2.68); p = 0.006] and rs9636089 in dominant model [OR 2.17 (95%CI; 1.06 - 4.46); p = 0.03], and allelic model [OR 2.26 (95%CI; 1.13 - 4.53) p = 0.02], respectively. Further, significant upregulation of linc-ROR (p = 0.005) was observed in our cohort, consistent with the HNSCC TCGA dataset (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the linc-ROR genetic variants could contribute to the metastasis and progression mainly in the late event of tumorigenesis of OSCCs and these variants could be useful in the precision therapeutic management of this cancer particularly in prognosis.