Molecular and Epidemiological Insights into Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Biomarker Profiling for Prognostic and Therapeutic Advancements

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER) family members (HER1, HER2, HER3, and HER4), along with Ki-67 and E-cadherin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to determine their prognostic and therapeutic relevance in relation to clinicopathological parameters. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan, from September 2023 to September 2025. METHODOLOGY: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded OSCC tissue samples (n = 138) were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and classified according to the WHO/Broder's grading system and the AJCC TNM staging system. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of HER1-HER4, Ki-67, and E-cadherin. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, utilising descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with p