MMP12 and neoplasm: These signatures included genes not previously associated with OSCC, such as MAMDC2, SYNPO2 and ARMH4. For discrimination of the normal and tumour sampling zones, we were able to derive an effective gene-based classifying model for molecular abnormality based on a panel of eight genes (MMP1, MMP12, MYO1B, TNFRSF12A, WDR66, LAMC2, SLC16A1 and PLAU).