Abstract
BackgroundHead and neck cancer (HNC) is a highly invasive cancer. Aurora-A has been reported for a number of malignancies. However, the identity of downstream effectors responsible for its aggressive phenotype in HNC remains underinvestigated.MethodsThe mRNA and protein expression levels of Aurora-A and FLJ10540 were assessed in HNC specimens and cell lines using RT-qPCR, western blot, Oncomine, and microarray database analysis. The downstream molecular mechanisms of Aurora-A were confirmed by RT-qPCR, western blot, luciferase reporter, confocal microscopy analyses, immunoprecipitation, colony formation, cell viability, and xenograft model. Cellular functions in response to Aurora-A-modulated downstream targets such as FLJ10540 and MMPs were examined in vitro and in vivo, including cell growth, motility and chemosensitivity. Aurora-A/FLJ10540/MMPs expression was determined in cancer and adjacent normal tissues from HNC patients by immunohistochemistry approach.ResultsIn the current study, Aurora-A exhibited similar gene expression profiles with FLJ10540 by using accessibly public microarray and Oncomine database analysis, raising the possibility that these molecules might coordinately participate in cancer progression and metastasis of HNC. These two molecules connection were also examined in cell lines and tissues of HNC. Aurora-A overexpression could not only bind to the promoter of FLJ10540 to induce FLJ10540 expression, but also increase both mRNA and protein levels of MMP-7 and MMP-10 in HNC cells. Conversely, depletion of Aurora-A expression by using siRNA or Aurora-A kinase inhibitor, MLN8237, suppressed FLJ10540, MMP-7 and MMP-10 mRNA and protein expressions in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the FLJ10540-PI3K complex was destroyed by inhibition the Aurora-A kinase activity. Forced overexpression of FLJ10540 in Aurora-A-depleted or in MLN8237-treated HNC cells attenuated the effect on cytotoxicity to cisplatin. Elevated Aurora-A expression in HNC cells led to the characteristics of more aggressive malignancy, including enhanced chemoresistance and increased the abilities of proliferation, migration and invasion, which was required for FLJ10540/MMP-7 or FLJ10540/MMP-10 expressions. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis of human HNC specimens showed a significant positively correlation among Aurora-A, FLJ10540, MMP-7 and MMP-10 expressions.ConclusionTogether, our findings define a novel mechanism by which Aurora-A promotes cell malignancy, with potential implications for understanding the clinical action of Aurora-A.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12943-015-0348-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, the incidence of HNC is estimated at 560,000 new cases and 300,000 deaths annually [1]
(See figure on previous page.) Figure 1 Clinical and cellular significances of FLJ10540 and Aurora-A in HNC. (A) Oncomine data mining analysis of Aurora-A and FLJ10540 mRNA levels in six different datasets between normal tissues versus head and neck carcinomas. (B) The correlation between the relative expression levels of FLJ10540 and Aurora-A in microarray database of HNC. (C and D) The mRNA and protein expression levels of FLJ10540 and Aurora-A in HNC cells were analyzed by Q-RT-PCR and Western blotting
GAPDH and β-actin were used as internal control. (E) Western blotting analysis of FLJ10540 and Aurora-A expressions were determined in paired HNC patients
Summary
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, the incidence of HNC is estimated at 560,000 new cases and 300,000 deaths annually [1]. According to a histopathological perspective, more than 90% of HNC are squamous cell carcinomas [2]. Both environmental factors and genetic inheritance can give rise to the development of HNC. Patients with early stage can be cured by therapy; two-third of HNC patients with advanced disease at time of diagnosis, due to HNC has a high potential for local recurrent, invasion and lymph node metastasis [3]. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a highly invasive cancer. The identity of downstream effectors responsible for its aggressive phenotype in HNC remains underinvestigated
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