Proteomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from OSCC patients reveals potential immune checkpoints to enable personalized treatment

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with high mortality and prevalence rates. OSCC is defined as an immunogenic tumor with the potential to be recognized and targeted by the immune system. It is characterized by the extensive infiltration of immune cells and plays a vital role in tumorigenesis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are a functional subset of immune cells readily accessible through minimally invasive procedures. The molecular characterization of immune cells aids in understanding their functional roles in various pathophysiological conditions. Proteomic analysis of PBMCs from cancer patients provides insight into the mechanism of immunoregulation and the role of immune cells in impeding tumor development and progression. Therefore, the present study investigated the immune cell proteome of a cancer control cohort within OSCC, leveraging data-independent acquisition analysis by mass spectrometry (DIA-MS). Among the differentially abundant proteins in OSCC, we identified promising molecular targets, including LMNB1, CTSB, CD14, CD177, and SPI1. Further exploration of the signaling pathways related to the candidate molecules demonstrated their involvement in cancer immunomodulation. Therefore, this study can serve as a platform for identifying new candidate proteins to further investigate their potential as immunotherapeutic targets and prognostic markers.