RETRACTED ARTICLE: Hsa_circ_0005379 regulates malignant behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma through the EGFR pathway

Wen Su,Hongyu Yang,Yufan Wang,Yuehong Shen,Shuai Sun,Minghua Li,Feng Wang

doi:10.1186/s12885-019-5593-5

Abstract

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an oral and maxillofacial malignancy with a high incidence worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role in modulating tumor development. However, the mechanism of circRNA action in human OSCC remains largely unknown.MethodsBy using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing technology, we conducted a comprehensive study of circRNAs in human OSCC. The effect of circRNA hsa_circ_0005379 on OSCC tissues and cell lines was monitored by qRT-PCR, Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis. Xenograft mouse models were used to assess tumor growth and animal survival.ResultsWe found that circRNA hsa_circ_0005379 expression is significantly lower in OSCC tissue compared to paired non-cancerous matched tissue and is associated with tumor size and differentiation. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0005379 effectively inhibits migration, invasion, and proliferation of OSCC cells in vitro and suppresses OSCC growth in nude mice in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that hsa_circ_0005379 may be involved in the regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway. Furthermore, we found that high expression of hsa_circ_0005379 could significantly enhance the sensitivity of OSCC to the cetuximab drug.ConclusionsOur findings provide evidence that hsa_circ_0005379 regulates OSCC malignancy and may be a new therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.

Highlights

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an oral and maxillofacial malignancy with a high incidence worldwide
1.6 million people are diagnosed and 333,000 people die from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), of which half the cases are OSCC [3]
We found that hsa_circ_0005379 is an OSCC tumor suppressor gene associated with tumor size and differentiation

Summary

Introduction

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an oral and maxillofacial malignancy with a high incidence worldwide. The mechanism of circRNA action in human OSCC remains largely unknown. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an invasive malignant tumor with different degrees of differentiation. The poor-differentiated OSCC has a tendency to metastasize to early lymph nodes [1]. It accounts for about 3% of the world’s malignant tumors [2]. 1.6 million people are diagnosed and 333,000 people die from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), of which half the cases are OSCC [3]. Incidence rates of OSCC in developing countries are higher than developed countries [2]. The latest academic statistics shows that the five-year survival rate of patients with OSCC is about 60% [4], while the 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion