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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
Long non-coding RNA PICSAR decreases adhesion and promotes migration of squamous carcinoma cells by downregulating
Minna Piipponen1,2,3, Jyrki Heino4, Veli-Matti Kähäri1,2,3
1Department of Dermatology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.
Abstract:
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate various cellular processes, and they have emerged as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. We have previously characterized the oncogenic role of lncRNA PICSAR (p38 inhibited cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma associated lincRNA) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the most common metastatic skin cancer. In this study, we show that knockdown of PICSAR in cSCC cells upregulates expression of α2, α5 and β1 integrins, resulting in increased cell adhesion and decreased cell migration on collagen I and fibronectin. In contrast, overexpression of PICSAR in cSCC cells downregulates expression of α2, α5 and β1 integrins on cell surface, resulting in decreased cell adhesion on collagen I and fibronectin and increased cell migration. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism for regulation of the expression of collagen and fibronectin binding integrins by lncRNA PICSAR, leading to altered adhesion and migration of cSCC cells.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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