Elevated Lin28B expression is correlated with lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinomas

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Lymph node (LN) metastasis is a primary driver of mortality in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
• The precise molecular mechanisms underlying LN metastasis in OSCC remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of Lin28B in the context of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
• To explore the effect of arecoline, an areca nut alkaloid, on Lin28B expression and its subsequent impact on oral epithelial cell behavior.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative real-time PCR was used to analyze Lin28B expression in tumor tissues, adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and LN metastatic lesions from OSCC patients.
• Arecoline was administered to oral epithelial cells to assess dose-dependent changes in Lin28B expression.
• Migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth assays were performed on arecoline-stimulated cells with and without Lin28B knockdown.

Main Results:

• Lin28B expression was significantly elevated in OSCC tumor samples and LN metastatic lesions compared to non-cancerous tissues.
• Arecoline treatment dose-dependently increased Lin28B expression in oral epithelial cell lines (SG and FaDu).
• Silencing Lin28B expression markedly reduced the oncogenic potential of arecoline-stimulated cells, including proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusions:

• Lin28B is implicated as a key factor in OSCC lymph node metastasis.
• Lin28B represents a potential biomarker for predicting LN metastasis in OSCC.
• Lin28B emerges as a promising novel molecular target for therapeutic intervention in OSCC patients with lymph node metastasis.