Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Research 2345-5489 13 1 2026 05 20 105 112 Abdolreza Mohamadnia Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mahta Malek Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hossein Dargahi Department of Management Sciences and Health Economic, Health Information Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mehdi Kazem Pour Dizaji Mycobacteriology Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mahsa Sadat Seid Saleh Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Seyed Shahab Banihashem Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Bayat Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Farnoosh Mohammadi Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Naghmeh Bahrami Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2026 02 07 2026 05 13 Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Early diagnosis and the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for disease monitoring are essential. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in inflammation (IP-10), cellular proliferation (EGFR), epithelial differentiation (CK17), and cellular regulation (ANXA1) in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients compared with healthy individuals.  Materials and Methods: In this case–control study, peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 OSCC patients and 30 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed into cDNA. Relative expression levels of IP-10 (CXCL10), EGFR, CK17, and ANXA1 were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.  Results: The expression levels of EGFR and CK17 were significantly increased in OSCC patients compared with controls (p < 0.001). Similarly, IP-10 expression was significantly upregulated in the patient group (p < 0.001). In contrast, ANXA1expression was significantly downregulated in OSCC patients (p < 0.001).  Conclusion: The altered expression patterns of IP-10, EGFR, CK17, and ANXA1 in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients indicate the potential of these markers as non-invasive molecular diagnostic biomarkers. The concurrent upregulation of EGFR and CK17 may play a critical role in tumor progression, while the downregulation of ANXA1 may reflect impaired anti-inflammatory and apoptotic processes. These findings support the future application of PCR-based blood tests for OSCC screening or monitoring; however, further confirmatory studies are recommended.   Keywords: Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Peripheral blood; Gene expression; EGFR; CK17; IP-10; ANXA1; Real-time PCR.  https://jcr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jcr/article/view/626 https://jcr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jcr/article/download/626/491