Review Article

p16INK4A and p14ARF Gene Promoter Hypermethylation as Prognostic Biomarker in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review

Table 1

Candidate genes frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in OSCC tumor tissue.

MechanismGeneGene functionClinicopathological associationaReferences

Cell cycle regulationCYCA1Cell cycleLower histological grade [37, 47]
CHFREarly G2/M checkpointHigher T status [48, 49]
p14ARFProapoptosisLNMb, T status (T2-3), advanced stage
Reduced recurrence rate, favourable prognosis
[32, 4042, 50, 51]
p15Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2BAnatomic site (tongue SCC)
Alcohol and tobacco use
[35, 41, 50]
p16INK4ARegulates cell cycle G1 progressionLarger tumor size, LNM, advanced stage
Younger age, increased recurrence rate, poor prognosis
[29, 30, 3235, 37, 4042, 50, 5254]

DNA repairhMSH1/hMSH2DNA mismatch repair[35, 38, 55]
MGMTGuanine alkylation repairReduced overall survival
Reduced disease-free survival
[29, 35, 38, 56]

Signal transductionEDNRBEndothelin receptor type BAlcohol and tobacco use[30, 34]
RUNX3Wnt pathway antagonistLNM, advanced stage, poor differentiation [34, 38, 57, 58]
SFRP1Wnt pathway antagonistMale gender[59]

Tissue invasion/metastasisECADCalcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion
glycoprotein
LNM, increased metastatic potential
Reduced disease-free survival
[35, 6062]

Tumor suppressionHIN1Inhibitor Ras pathwayReduced disease-free survival[63]
DAPK1ProapoptosisLNM [38, 41]
DCCProapoptosisInvasion of bone and deep tongue
Reduced survival
[30, 41]
RASSF1A/RASSF2Negative RAS effector, proapoptotic, microtubule stabilizationDecreased disease-free survival
radioresistance
[38, 63]

OtherKIF1ACell division and microtubule-dependent intracellular organelle transport Malignant histology [30, 64]

Reported significant associations and trends.
bLymph node metastasis.