Human Oral Cancer Progression Research Articles

Flavopereirine Suppresses the Progression of Human Oral Cancer by Inhibiting the JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway via Targeting LASP1

ObjectiveFlavopereirine has been identified to be a potential anti-cancer agent in several types of human cancer. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer activity of flavopereirine in oral cancer.MethodsThe effect of flavopereirine on cell viability of human oral cancer cell lines (BcaCD885 and Tca8113) was evaluated by MTT assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected by flow cytometry. Cell invasion and migration were evaluated by Transwell assay. The expression of LASP1, JAK2, p-JAK2, STST3, p-STST3, STST5 and p-STST5 was evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. In addition, the xenograft mouse model was constructed to determine the anti-cancer role of flavopereirine in vivo.ResultsFlavopereirine significantly inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT process of BcaCD885 and Tca8113 cells, while promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. Flavopereirine markedly decreased the expression levels of p-JAK2, p-STST3 and p-STST5, while increased the expression levels of LASP1. In addition, downregulation of LASP1 significantly increased the expression levels of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and p-STAT5 compared with si-NC in BcaCD885 cells. Moreover, flavopereirine was found to decrease tumor weight and volume of xenograft tumors in vivo.ConclusionFlavopereirine inhibited the progression of oral cancer through inactivating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by upregulating LASP1, suggesting that flavopereirine might be a potential anti-cancer agent for oral cancer.

Repression of metastasis-associated protein 2 for inhibiting metastasis of human oral cancer cells by promoting the p-cofilin-1/ LC3-II expression.

The overexpression of metastasis-associated protein 2 (MTA2) contributes to human tumor progression and metastasis in various tumor cells. However, the role of MTA2 in human oral cancer progression remains unknown. MTA2 expression in human oral tumor tissues and cell lines was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed using MTT assay and flow cytometry. The effects of MTA2 on oral cell migration and invasion were investigated using migration and invasion assays. The expression of MTA2, p-cofilin-1, and MTA2-induced LC3-II levels were measured using Western blotting and an immunofluorescence assay. Based on the human oral cancer tissue array and TCGA database, we found that MTA2 was increased in oral cancer tissues than in non-tumor oral tissues (P<.01). Moreover, MTA2 is significantly associated with tumor grade (P<.01) and the overall survival rate of patients with grade III tumor (P<.05). MTA2 expression in oral cancer cells was markedly higher than that in normal oral cells. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were not significantly changed in the cells inhibited by MTA2. MTA2 knockdown can inhibit cell migration and invasion of human oral cancer cells. Furthermore, we suggest that MTA2 inhibition enhances p-cofilin and LC3-II expression, and the knockdown of LC3-II expression in cells inhibited by MTA2 had the opposite effect. These results indicate that MTA2 may serve as a candidate prognostic biomarker and that targeting autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating human oral cancer.

Abstract 103: Expression and regulation of MMP9 and RECK in human oral squamous cell carcinoma progression and invasion

Abstract Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a Zn-dependent endopeptidase is known to play a central role in oral cancer pathogenesis. Recently we observed differential function of MMP-9 and reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) respectively in OSCC invasion. We hypothesize that the downregulation of MMP-9 via RECK promotes human oral cancer progression and invasion. Experimental procedure: The mRNA expression, protein expression and activity of MMP-9/2, expression of transcription factors like Snail, c-Myc, β-catenin and protein-protein interaction of TIMP1/RECK with MMP9 and promoter methylation of RECK gene were assessed by using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, gelatin zymography, and bisulphate modification-PCR analyses. Wnt5a and LPA mediated MMP-9 regulation as well as the MMP-9 regulation by the exogenously expression of RECK, GSK3β (WT) or non phosphoryable active GSK3β (S9A) was also performed in oral tongue SCC derived SCC-9 cells. Summary: We observed up-regulation/activation of MMP-9 was associated with decreased expression of RECK and progression and invasion of OSCC. MMP-9 expression/ activity was positively correlated with inactivation of GSK3β signaling. Conversely, a link between inactivation of GSK3 signaling and the progressive silencing of RECK gene through promoter hypermethylation was observed. Finally, Wnt5a and LPA mediated increased MMP-9 and decreased RECK expressions were observed. Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrated the influence of a novel signaling axis GSK3β-RECK-MMP-9 to drive OSCC progression and invasion. Thus, targeting this pathway may be exploited for treating OSCC. Citation Format: Kamdeo Kumar Pramanik, Basabi Rana, Ajay Rana, Rajakishore Mishra. Expression and regulation of MMP9 and RECK in human oral squamous cell carcinoma progression and invasion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 103.

Elaeagnus angustifolia Plant Extract Inhibits Angiogenesis and Downgrades Cell Invasion of Human Oral Cancer Cells via Erk1/Erk2 Inactivation

ABSTRACTOral cancer is a common malignancy in both men and women worldwide; this cancer is characterized by a marked propensity for invasion and spreading to local lymph nodes. On the other hand, Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) is a medicinal plant that has been used for centuries for treating many human diseases in the Middle East. However, the effect of EA plant extract on human cancers especially oral has not been investigated yet. Thus, first we examined the outcome of EA flower extract on angiogenesis, using the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chicken embryo; we found that EA extract reduces blood vessel development of the CAM. Then, we investigated the effect of EA flower extract on selected parameters in FaDu and SCC25 oral cancer cell lines. Our results show that EA extract inhibits cell proliferation and colony formation, in addition to the initiation of S cell cycle arrest and reduction of G1/G2 phase. In parallel, EA extract provokes differentiation to an epithelial phenotype “mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition: MET” which is the opposite of “epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, EMT”: an important event in cell invasion and metastasis. Thus, EA plant extract causes a dramatic decrease in cell invasion and motility abilities of FaDu and SCC25 cancer cells in comparison with their controls. These changes are accompanied by an upregulation of E-cadherin expression. The molecular pathway analysis of the EA flower extract reveals that it can inhibit the phosphorylation of Erk1/Erk2, which could be behind the inhibition of angiogenesis, the initiation of MET event, and the overexpression of E-cadherin. Our findings indicate that EA plant extract can reduce human oral cancer progression by the inhibition of angiogenesis and cell invasion via Erk1/Erk2 signaling pathways.

Comparison of the expression of TGF-β1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, TP53, RB1CC1 and HIF-1α in oral squamous cell carcinoma and lymph node metastases of humans and mice.

The aim of the present study was to prove that a mouse model closely simulates human oral cancer progression by comparing the expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, tumor protein (TP)53, RB1 inducible coiled-coil (RB1CC)1 and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α at different stages of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in humans and mice. The expression levels of TGF-β1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, TP53, RB1CC1, and HIF-1α were detected by immunohistochemical staining in normal oral mucosa, oral mucosa dysplasia, OSCC primary tumor and carcinoma tissues from lymph node metastases. Tissue samples were obtained from human specimens and the Balb/c mouse model of lymphatic metastases oral carcinoma, induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in drinking water. The results indicated no significant differences in the expression levels of TGF-β1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, TP53, RB1CC1 and HIF-1α between humans and mice, at any stage of OSCC examined (P>0.05). The expression of TGF-β1, N-cadherin, TP53 and RB1CC1 increased in different stages of OSCC in both humans and mice. The expression of E-cadherin decreased from normal oral mucosa to OSCC, and increased in lymph node metastases in both human and mouse samples. The expression of HIF-1α increased from normal oral mucosa to OSCC, and decreased in lymph node metastases in both human and mouse samples. Additionally, the expression of p53 was positively correlated with that of RB1CC1 in human and mouse samples (r=0.971, P=0.029; r=0.97, P=0.03). Overall, the similar expression of multiple molecules in both human and mouse carcinoma prove that the mouse model of lymphatic metastases from oral carcinoma established in the present study may closely mimic human oral cancer.

Abstract 1845: Mutant p53 promotes progression and metastasis of mouse oral tumors induced by 4NQO, associated with specific immune infiltrates

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. The vast majority of the human HNSCCs contain p53 mutations, some of which acquire oncogenic gain-of-function (GOF) activities. Previous mouse models in which either the p53R172H GOF mutation or deletion of the p53 gene were co-activated with oncogenic K-ras showed that p53R172H can predispose to oral tumor initiation, accelerate tumor growth and promote progression to SCC. However, the impact of p53 gain- and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in metastasis could not be assessed because of the low rates of progression to SCC in that model. To overcome this limitation, we used the tobacco-surrogate 4NQO to induce oral lesions that may progress to advance carcinomas following stepwise changes that resemble the gradual accumulation of histological and molecular abnormalities observed during human oral cancer progression. To examine the role of p53 mutations during SCC malignant progression we applied 4NQO to mice in which the p53R172H mutation or homozygous deletion of p53 were activated in oral epithelial cells. We observed that oral tumors appeared faster in the presence of p53 mutations than in mice with wtp53. No significant difference was observed between the p53R172H mutation and p53 deletion. However, survival was shorter in mice expressing p53R172H than in mice with loss of p53. Notably, regional and distant metastasis were only observed in mice with oral tumors expressing p53R172H. Therefore, these mice are excellent tools for pre-clinical studies designed to target early stages of tumor development or latest stages of progression and metastasis. As immunotherapy is becoming adopted as part of the standard treatment for head and neck cancer patients, we conducted a detailed characterization of the immune infiltrates of the lesions that developed in these mice in order to assess their immunogenicity. We observed a progressive increase in T-cell infiltration from normal oral mucosa to oral premalignant lesions (OPL) to SCC, in the presence or absence of p53 mutations. Similarly, the expression of immune checkpoint proteins, including PD1, PDL1 and CTLA4 increased during oral tumor progression, regardless of the p53 status. Interestingly, we observed a sharp increase in the presence of immune infiltrates expressing the co-stimulatory OX40 in SCCs relative to premalignant lesions, with different extent depending on the nature of the p53 mutation. The significance of these observations is currently being analyzed. In summary, p53R172H promotes metastasis in oral tumors induced by 4NQO. In addition, T-cell infiltration and activation of immune checkpoints during oral tumor progression suggest that this is an excellent model to test immunotherapy-based strategies. Furthermore, our findings suggest that OX40-based therapies may be tailored to patients according to their p53 status. Citation Format: Jin Wang, Yuanyuan Zhang, Bingbing Wang, Adel K. El-Naggar, Jeffrey N. Myers, Carlos Caulin. Mutant p53 promotes progression and metastasis of mouse oral tumors induced by 4NQO, associated with specific immune infiltrates [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1845. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1845

Adenosine A2b receptor promotes progression of human oral cancer.

BackgroundAdenosine A2b receptor (ADORA2B) encodes an adenosine receptor that is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. This integral membrane protein stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of adenosine. Little is known about the relevance of ADORA2B to human malignancy including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aimed to characterize the expression state and function of ADORA2B in OSCC.MethodsThe ADORA2B expression levels in nine OSCC-derived cells were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses. Using an ADORA2B knockdown model, we assessed cellular proliferation and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor1α (HIF-1α). We examined the adenosine receptor expression profile under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in the OSCC-derived cells. In addition to in vitro data, the clinical correlation between the ADORA2B expression levels in primary OSCCs (n = 100 patients) and the clinicopathological status by immunohistochemistry (IHC) also was evaluated.ResultsADORA2B mRNA and protein were up-regulated significantly (p < 0.05) in seven OSCC-derived cells compared with human normal oral keratinocytes. Suppression of ADORA2B expression with shRNA significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited cellular proliferation compared with the control cells. HIF-1α also was down-regulated in ADORA2B knockdown OSCC cells. During hypoxia, ADORA2B expression was induced significantly (p < 0.05) in the mRNA and protein after 24 hours of incubation in OSCC-derived cells. IHC showed that ADORA2B expression in primary OSCCs was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than in the normal oral counterparts and that ADORA2B-positive OSCCs were correlated closely (p < 0.05) with tumoral size.ConclusionOur results suggested that ADORA2B controls cellular proliferation via HIF-1α activation, indicating that ADORA2B may be a key regulator of tumoral progression in OSCCs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1577-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Kinesin Family member 4A: A Potential Predictor for Progression of Human Oral Cancer

BackgroundKinesin family member 4A (KIF4A), a microtubule-based motor protein, was implicated in regulation of chromosomal structure and kinetochore microtubule dynamics. Considering the functions of KIF4A, we assumed that KIF4A is involved in progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) via activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). However, little is known about the relevance of KIF4A in the behavior of OSCC. We investigated the KIF4A expression status and its functional mechanisms in OSCC.MethodsThe KIF4A expression levels in seven OSCC-derived cells were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses. Using a KIF4A knockdown model, we assessed the expression of (SAC)-related molecules (BUB1, MAD2, CDC20, and cyclin B1), cell-cycle, and cellular proliferation. In addition to in vitro data, the clinical correlation between the KIF4A expression levels in primary OSCCs (n = 106 patients) and the clinicopathologic status by immunohistochemistry (IHC) also were evaluated. ResultsKIF4A mRNA and protein were up-regulated significantly (P < 0.05) in seven OSCC-derived cells compared with human normal oral keratinocytes. In the KIF4A knockdown cells, SAC activation was observed via increased BUB1 expression on the kinetochores, appropriate kinetochore localization of MAD2, down-regulation of CDC20, up-regulation of cyclin B1, and cell-cycle arrested at G2/M phase. The results showed that cellular proliferation of KIF4A knockdown cells decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with control cells. IHC showed that KIF4A expression in primary OSCCs was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in the normal oral counterparts and that KIF4A-positive OSCCs were correlated closely (P < 0.05) with tumoral size. ConclusionsOur results proposed for the first time that KIF4A controls cellular proliferation via SAC activation. Therefore, KIF4A might be a key regulator for tumoral progression in OSCCs.

Persephin: A potential key component in human oral cancer progression through the RET receptor tyrosine kinase‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway

Persephin (PSPN) is a neurotrophic factor of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family that promotes survival of multiple populations of neurons. Little is known about the relevance of PSPN in human malignancy including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study was undertaken to evaluate PSPN mRNA and protein expression by analyzing cellular proliferation and the cell cycle in PSPN knockdown cells in vitro. PSPN mRNA and protein were significantly (P < 0.05) up-regulated in OSCC-derived cells compared with human normal oral keratinocytes (n = 7). Cellular proliferation decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in PSPN knockdown cells with reduced receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, and cell-cycle arrest at the G1 phase resulted from up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (p21(Cip1) , p27(Kip1) , p15(INK4B) , and p16(INK4A) ). Furthermore, the PSPN protein expression in 101 primary OSCCs was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in normal counterparts. Among the clinical variables analyzed, overexpression of PSPN also was related closely (P < 0.05) to tumoral size. Our results suggested that PSPN is a possible key regulator of OSCC progression via PSPN-RET-mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and that PSPN overexpression may have diagnostic potential for OSCC.

Cancer progression is associated with increased expression of basement membrane proteins in three-dimensional in vitro models of human oral cancer

Background Although basement membrane was traditionally considered an inert barrier that tumour cells had to cross before invasion into the surrounding stroma, recent studies suggest that basement membrane components are not only degraded during tumour progression, but also newly synthesised at the invasive front. Objective This study aimed at evaluating (1) the expression of basement membrane proteins in human oral carcinogenesis and (2) the role that epithelial–mesenchymal interactions play on it, by using an in vitro oral cancer progression model. Material and methods In vitro three-dimensional (3D) organotypic cultures of normal, early neoplastic and neoplastic human oral mucosa were developed by growing primary normal human oral keratinocytes, dysplastic human oral keratinocytes (DOK cell line), and neoplastic human oral keratinocytes (PE/CA-PJ15 cell line) on type I collagen biomatrices, with or without primary fibroblasts isolated from normal human oral mucosa. The cultured tissues were immunohistochemically assessed for the expression of the major basement membrane proteins laminin-332, type IV collagen, and fibronectin. Results Expression of laminin-332, type IV collagen, and fibronectin was gradually more pronounced in neoplastic models when compared to normal mucosa models, and, with the exception of laminin-332, it was further enhanced by presence of fibroblasts. Deposition of type IV collagen at the epithelium–biomatrix interface occurred only in presence of fibroblasts, as well as the extracellular matrix deposition of fibronectin. Conclusions These findings, obtained in a 3D in vitro model that closely mirrors the in vivo human oral cancer progression, show an enhanced basement membrane protein expression during human oral cancer progression that is dependent on the epithelial–mesenchymal environment, respectively the existence of fibroblasts.

S‐allylcysteine modulates the expression of E‐cadherin and inhibits the malignant progression of human oral cancer

Oral cancer is a prevalent type of cancer in the Asian countries. Several studies indicated that garlic extracts such as diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) have anti‐cancer effects. However, the inhibitory effects of water soluble garlic extracts, S‐allylcysteine (SAC), on the tumor malignancy of oral cancer have not been studied well yet. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of SAC on the proliferation and progression of human oral squamous cancer CAL‐27 cells.In the present study, we demonstrated that SAC dose dependently inhibited the growth of human oral squamous cancer cells. Our results showed that SAC induced the expression of E‐cadherin adhesion molecule. Immunocytochemical staining result also revealed that SAC could restore the distribution of E‐cadherin molecule on cell membrane. We further demonstrated that SAC stabilized the adherent junction complex of E‐cadherin/β‐catenin in oral cancer cells. Treatment of MAPK/MEK specific inhibitor, PD098059, could upregulate the expression of E‐cadherin molecule. Furthermore, SAC significantly inhibited the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. These findings were associated with the down regulation of Slug repressor protein.In conclusion, our results indicated that SAC effectively inhibited the proliferation, upregulated the expression of E‐cadherin molecule, and stabilized the E‐cadherin/β‐catenin adherent junction complex in human oral squamous cancer cells. The mechanism of action was in part through the suppression of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and downregulation of Slug repressor protein.

S-Allylcysteine modulates the expression of E-cadherin and inhibits the malignant progression of human oral cancer

Oral cancer is a prevalent type of cancer in Asian countries. Several studies indicated that garlic extracts such as diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) have anticancer effects. However, the inhibitory effects of water soluble garlic extracts, S-allylcysteine (SAC), on the malignant progression of oral cancer have not been studied well yet. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of SAC on the proliferation and progression of human oral squamous cancer CAL-27 cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that SAC dose dependently inhibited the growth of human oral squamous cancer cells. Our results showed that SAC induced the expression of E-cadherin adhesion molecule. Immunocytochemical staining result also revealed that SAC could restore the distribution of E-cadherin molecule on cell membrane. We further demonstrated that SAC stabilized the adherent junction complex of E-cadherin/β-catenin in oral cancer cells. Treatment with the MAPK/MEK specific inhibitor, PD098059, could up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin molecule. Furthermore, SAC significantly inhibited the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. These findings were associated with the down-regulation of the SLUG repressor protein. In conclusion, our results indicated that SAC effectively inhibited the proliferation, up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin molecule and stabilized the E-cadherin/β-catenin adherent junction complex in human oral squamous cancer cells. The mechanism of action was in part through the suppression of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and down-regulation of the SLUG repressor protein.

Altered p16INK4a and Fhit expression in carcinogenesis and progression of human oral cancer

To further characterize the biological and clinical role of molecular alterations involved in oral squamous carcinogenesis, the immunohistochemical expression level of two tumor suppressor genes, fragile histidine triad and p16INK4a, in non-carcinomatous squamous epithelia and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was determined. In addition, human papillomavirus infection determined by PCR assay and the use of alcohol and cigarettes were evaluated. In this study 28 non-carcinomatous squamous epithelia and 57 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were considered. The expression levels of fragile histidine triad were lower in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma than in non-carcinomatous squamous epithelia. In contrast, p16INK4a is expressed in malignant lesions (51% of the cases analyzed), but not in non-carcinomatous squamous epithelia. No correlation between gene expression alterations of the two tumor suppressors was observed. PCR analysis showed that HPV DNA was present in 5 of the 57 malignant lesions analyzed (8.8%). None of the factors described above, despite changes in gene expression and HPV infection, appears to be associated with alcohol use and/or tobacco smoking and clinical outcome. Our data showed that fragile histidine triad and p16INK4a expression are altered in malignant lesions. Most likely, the decreasing levels of fragile histidine triad is directly involved in cancer development, while the accumulation of p16INK4a in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma may be the consequence of loss of functional tumor suppressor retinoblastoma pathway.