Abstract
The occurrence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is closely correlated with serum components; however, the detailed mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Proteomic analysis contributed to the discovery of potential biomarkers and provided an insight into TSCC at a molecular level. The present study investigated the effect of serum deprivation on the Tca‑8113 TSCC cell line through protein profiling using two‑dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, with the aim of improving TSCC diagnosis. The results showed that the Tca‑8113 cells maintained proliferative capacity and resisted apoptosis following serum deprivation. A total of 43 proteins were upregulated and 45 were downregulated following serum deprivation for 24 h, compared with untreated controls (0 h). The upregulated caspase-7, heat shock protein 27 and Annexin A1, and the downregulated peroxiredoxin‑6 and heat shock protein 70, were selected for verification using reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction analysis following serum deprivation for 16 h. The results indicated that reactive oxygen species may be important in serum deprivation‑induced oxidative stress.