Randomized trial evaluates RNA sequencing from brush swabs in OSCC, indicating potential for noninvasive diagnosis.
Key Points
Evaluate a noninvasive brush swab method for nucleic acid collection suitable for RNA sequencing in OSCC patients.
39 patients enrolled for brush swab and fresh-frozen tissue sample collection before and during surgery.
Comparative analysis of RNA concentration, integrity, and sequencing mapping rate between swabs and tissue samples.
Correlation assessment of gene expression profiles between matched swabs and tissue samples.
Swab samples yielded lower RNA concentration (73.2 ng/ul vs 456.3 ng/ul) and integrity (DV200 82.0% vs 91.6%) but had an 84.3% sequencing mapping rate after bacterial rRNA depletion.
Strong correlation in gene expression profiles between tissue and swab samples (r = 0.969; p < 2.2e-16).
Developed protocol showed excellent concordance for total transcriptomic profiling of brush swabs alongside tissue samples.