Cornulin as a Key Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Cancers of the Squamous Epithelium

Abstract

The prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma is increasing, and efforts that aid in an early and accurate diagnosis are crucial to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Cornulin, a squamous epithelium-specific protein, has recently garnered attention due to its implications in the progression of squamous cell carcinoma developed in several tissues. As an epidermal differentiation marker, it is involved in skin anchoring, regulating cellular proliferation, and is a putative tumor suppressor. The physiologically healthy squamous epithelium displays a considerable level of Cornulin, whereas squamous cell carcinomas have marked downregulation, suggesting that Cornulin expression levels can be utilized for the early detection and follow-up on the progression of these types of cancer. Cornulin’s expression patterns in cervical cancer have been examined, and findings support the stepwise downregulation of Cornulin levels that accompanies the progression to neoplasia in the cervix. Additional studies documented a similar trend in expression in other types of cancer, such as cutaneous, esophageal, and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. The consistent and predictable pattern of Cornulin expression across several squamous cell carcinomas and its correlation with key clinicopathological parameters make it a reliable biomarker for assessing the transformation and progression events in the squamous epithelium, thus potentially contributing to the early detection, definitive diagnosis, and more favorable prognosis for these cancer patients.