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Incomplete epithelial-mesenchymal transition in p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma cells correlates with β-catenin
Claudia Umbreit1, Julia Flanjak2, Christel Weiss3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany claudia.umbreit@umm.de.
Anticancer Research
|December 16, 2014
Summary
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers like E-cadherin and vimentin were studied in human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive and -negative squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. EGF and TGFβ1 stimulation induced incomplete EMT in p16-positive SCC, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for cancer invasion and metastasis, involving changes in cell adhesion proteins like E-cadherin and vimentin.
- Growth factors such as epithelial growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) can induce EMT.
- The role of EMT in human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of vimentin, β-catenin, and E-cadherin in p16-positive and p16-negative SCC cells.
- To determine the effect of EGF and TGFβ1 stimulation on EMT markers in different SCC subtypes.
Main Methods:
- p16-positive (CERV196) and p16-negative (HNSCC22B) SCC cell lines were treated with EGF and EGF/TGFβ1 (10 ng/ml).
- Expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, and β-catenin was analyzed using immunocytochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 5, 24, and 96 hours.
- Cell scattering and protein expression levels were quantified.
Main Results:
- Vimentin expression was generally low across all cell lines.
- EGF/TGFβ1 stimulation significantly induced vimentin expression over time in p16-negative SCC cells.
- EGF treatment led to increased β-catenin and vimentin expression, cell scattering, and unexpected E-cadherin expression in p16-positive SCC cells, indicating incomplete EMT.
Conclusions:
- E-cadherin, β-catenin, and vimentin are key markers for characterizing EMT-like events in SCC.
- Incomplete EGF-induced EMT with β-catenin expression was observed in p16-positive SCC.
- Further research is needed to understand the role of EMT markers in p16-positive SCC for developing novel anti-cancer therapies.
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