20.500.12556/RUL-184297 Expression of NOTCH1 is correlated with expression of cancer stem cell markers and miR-150 in oral epithelial dysplasia NOTCH1 is associated with various tumors, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with a complex role depending on cellular contexts. Our aim was to analyze the expression of NOTCH1, several stem cell markers, and selected microRNAs in preneoplastic lesion of the oral cavity, oral epithelial dysplasia (OAD). Our study included formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples of 36 cases of OAD and 15 cases of normal oral mucosa. Expression of NOTCH1, stem cell markers (AGR2, KLF4, NANOG, OCT4, SOX2), and miR-27a, miR-34a, miR-128, miR-145, miR-150, and miR-335 was analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Expression of NOTCH1 protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In OAD compared to normal mucosa, we found a significant increase in mRNA levels of NOTCH1, stem cell markers AGR2, NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2, and miR-150 and miR-128. NOTCH1 mRNA positively correlated with all five stem cell markers' mRNA levels and miR-150. Immunohistochemistry showed variable expression patterns of NOTCH1 in OAD and normal mucosa. Our results support the role of NOTCH1 in early phases of OSCC development, with a potential contributory role in stemness, in association with AGR2, NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2, miR-150 and miR-128. These results support a complex role of NOTCH1 in carcinoma development, i.e., from oncogenic to tumor suppressor roles and stemness maintenance, not only in invasive OSCC but also in its precursor-OED. NOTCH1 microRNAs oral epithelial dysplasia squamous cell carcinoma stem cell markers oralna epitelijska displazija ploščatocelični karcinom označevalci matičnih celic true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-07-03 09:30:18 2026-07-03 09:30:24 2026-07-04 04:21:58 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 12 str. iss. 4, art. 1946 Vol. 27 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 616:577.2 1422-0067 10.3390/ijms27041946 271526147 RAZ_Bostjancic_Emanuela_2026.pdf RAZ_Bostjancic_Emanuela_2026.pdf 1 6F4C6FC2C99D8A4FF0C4F3BD9CA3AF2E 273bd3a3f2041a4d4e185b56e8568ea6c87aceab95e62125581e647252d8296e 4ab6722b-76b1-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=236940 https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/4/1946 1 f2ac7073-76b0-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=236939 Medicinska fakulteta 0 0 0