OBJECTIVE: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is categorized as an oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) with an increased risk of occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, we aimed to identify the hub genes associated with OSMF and OSCC. STUDY DESIGN: Using RStudio, a set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in (A) OSMF, (B) OSCC, and (C) comparative OSMF-OSCC category, obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The Protein to Protein Interaction (PPI) Network, hub genes, and functional annotation were determined using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING), Cytoscape, and SR-Plot, Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). RESULTS: A total of 2081, 2320, and 3295 DEGs were obtained from the OSMF, OSCC, and comparative categories, respectively. Hub gene and gene enrichment analysis revealed that the genes in (A) MYH6, TTN, TNNT3, MYL1, TPM2, ACTN3, NEB, MYL2, TNNT1, and TPM1
(B) CD4, SELL, CD28, CD27, PRF1, CD80, GZMB, CD40LG, ITGAX, and IL4
and (C) CD4, CD8A, CTLA4, CD28, GZMB, IL79, CD69, CD40LG, IFNG, and CD80 categories, were associated with muscle contraction, cell proliferation, and malignant transformation. CONCLUSIONS: Hub genes and functional enrichment analysis revealed the diagnostic genes and the genes responsible for the malignant transformation in OSMF, OSCC, and the comparative category. A panel of identified genes will be of clinical significance in targeted therapy in future studies. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol YEAR
VOL:page range).