2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Reverse signaling from EphrinB2 enhances lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Research Project

Project/Area Number	23792353
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Surgical dentistry
Research Institution	Kochi University
Principal Investigator	SASABE ERI 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系, 助教 (40363288)
Project Period (FY)	2011 – 2013
Keywords	Ephrin-B2 / 口腔扁平上皮癌
Research Abstract	Lymphangiogenesis is controlled primarily by VEGF receptor signaling and its signaling is enhanced by reverse signaling from Ephrin-B2. We determined whether Ephrin-B2 expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma contributes to lymph node metastasis. Introduction of Ephrin-B2-siRNA into SAS-L1 cells significantly suppressed adhesion and cell-to-cell migration activities to hLEC cells. In a model constructed by implanting SAS-L1 cells in the tongue of SCID mice, injection of Ephrin-B2-siRNA significantly reduced the number of cervical lymph nodes with metastasis. Ephrin-B2 expression level correlated with N classification, tumor grading, and invasion mode of primary lesions from 50 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. In summary, Ephrin-B2 signaling was shown to facilitate lymph node metastasis via effects on adhesion to the surrounding lymphatic vessels and migration activities.

(3 results)