Role of cancer stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462940
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pathobiological dentistry/Dental radiology
• Research Institution: Aichi Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Goto Mitsuo 愛知学院大学, 歯学部, 講師 (60645191)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔扁平上皮がん / 低分化がん / CSC/EMT / podoplanin / TGF-β / PI3K/Akt経路 / 分子標的薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cancer stem cells (CSC) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are reportedly involved in tumor invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, molecular base of this relationship remains unclear. Here, we focused on podoplanin (PDPN) to investigate its role in cancer stemness and EMT of OSCC. We developed a panel of UMSCC81B cell lines including parent cells, CSC subline, and EMT subline.
PDPN expression of parent and CSC cells was significantly higher than EMT cell. In vitro analysis revealed that PDPN expression of parent and CSC cells was down-regulated by HDAC inhibitors, whereas expressions of differentiation markers were up-regulated by the HDAC treatment. Knockdown of PDPN induced differentiation and suppressed cell growth. TGF-β induced PDPN expression. These results suggest that PDPN plays some important role in maintaining cancer stemness but not maintenance of EMT phenotype. PDPN would be a new therapeutic target for cancer stem cell of OSCC.

Free Research Field

口腔腫瘍学