# Expression of RAS and RAB interactor 1 (RIN1) in head and neck tumors at selected hospital in Ghana

## TL;DR

This study examines RIN1 protein expression in head and neck tumors in Ghana, finding lower levels compared to normal tissues and suggesting a role in tumor progression.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into RIN1's potential role in head and neck tumor progression in a Ghanaian population.

## Key findings

- RIN1 expression was significantly lower in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues.
- Age groups ≤40 and >40 showed significant differences in RIN1 expression (p=0.02).
- Poorly differentiated tumors had significantly different RIN1 levels compared to well-moderate ones (p=0.001).

## Abstract

Head and neck tumors (HNT) are tumors of the paranasal sinuses, the salivary glands and the upper aerodigestive tract. RIN1 is a Ras effector protein regulating epithelial cell properties and has been implicated in a number of cancers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of RIN1 in head and neck tumors. RIN1 expression was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining on archival head and neck tissue samples between 2014 and 2020.

RIN1 expression was low in tissue samples as compared with the normal head and neck tissues. High and low RIN1 levels were compared with ages ≤40, >40 in the head and neck tumors of p-value 0.02. There was a significant difference with p-values of 0.001 when poor and well-moderate malignant tumors were compared.

Our data suggests that RIN1may play an important role in head and neck tumor progression and that its expression may provide baseline data to facilitate identification of new molecular targeted therapeutics.