Catecholamine O-Methyltransferase as a Promising Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which constitutes over 90% of all oral cancers, is the most prevalent malignancy affecting the oral cavity and is marked by high aggressive behavior and high recurrence rate. Although significant progress has been made in therapeutic strategies, the overall prognosis for OSCC patients remains poor, primarily due to the common occurrence of late-stage diagnosis and the frequent development of metastases. Therefore, implementing effective early detection methods alongside the development of targeted therapies is essential to significantly enhance clinical outcomes and long-term survival rates in affected individuals. In this experimental study, we focused on Catecholamine OMethyltransferase (COMT), a key enzyme involved in the metabolic breakdown of catecholamines such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. COMT regulates neurotransmitter levels and oxidative stress, and its polymorphisms have been linked to cancer susceptibility, progression, and therapeutic response. COMT expression levels were assessed at both mRNA and protein level in OSCC specimens compared to adjacent healthy tissue. Our findings demonstrated a significant overexpression of COMT in cancerous tissues, suggesting its potential role as a diagnostic marker. Ongoing functional analyses are being performed using gene knockdown approaches to elucidate the role of the enzyme in OSCC phenotype.