Abstract 5130
Background
The atypical chemokine receptor, CXCR7, has been shown to play an important role in the progression of several types of cancer. However, there have been few reports on the biological role of CXCR7 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we investigated the functional role of CXCR7 and the underlying molecular mechanism of disease progression in HNSCC.
Methods
We examined the association between CXCR7 expression and clinicopathological characteristics in 103 cases of HNSCC using tissue microarrays by immunohistochemical staining. The biological roles of CXCR7 and CXCR7-mediated signaling pathways were investigated in HNSCC cell through CXCR7 overexpression and treatment of SDF-1α, a major ligand of CXCR7, as well as knockdown of CXCR7 in vitro and in vivo.
Results
CXCR7 was differentially expressed in human HNSCC tissues. High expression of CXCR7 was significantly related to depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.007), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.004), and tumor stage (P = 0.02). Overexpression of CXCR7 dramatically enhanced cell migration and invasion in HNSCC cells in vitro, and promoted lymph node metastasis in vivo. CXCR7 knockdown using siRNA in HNSCC cells recovered the cell migratory and invasive behavior of HNSCC cells. CXCR7 overexpression also induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Vimentin, Slug, and Twist were increased but E-cadherin and Ep-CAM were decreased by CXCR7 expression. Akt phosphorylation and Smad2 signaling activation were induced in HNSCC cells with CXCR7 overexpression. Treatment with a PI3K inhibitor reduced Slug and Twist levels while suppression of Smad2 signaling by siRNA reduced Akt phosphorylation, as well as Slug and Twist. Furthermore, inhibition of Smad2 decreased tumor cell migration and invasion in HNSCC.
Conclusions
CXCR7 expression was associated with an aggressive tumor behavior in HNSCC. CXCR7 contributed to cell migration and invasion of HNSCC cell through the Smad2/Akt signaling axis in vitro, and was involved in lymph node metastasis in vivo, suggesting that CXCR7 might be a therapeutic target for the treatment of HNSCC.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
Hyo Jin Lee.
Funding
Cancer Research Institute of CNU.
Editorial Acknowledgement
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1159 - Molecular characterization and search for founding effects in Canarian families with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome
Presenter: Elisenda Llabres Valenti
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
3725 - Effect of the polymorphism rs2066844 of the NOD2 gene on colon cancer incidence in a high cardiovascular risk population. Modulation by gender
Presenter: Judith Begona Ramirez Sabio
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
3708 - Effect of the polymorphisms rs1476413, rs1801131, rs4846052 and rs6541003 of the MTHFR gene on prostate cancer in a high cardiovascular risk population
Presenter: Judith Begona Ramirez Sabio
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
5057 - Association of a genetic variant in cyclin-dependent kinase Inhibitor 2A gene with the increased risk of breast cancer
Presenter: Soodabeh Shahid Sales
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
5970 - Investigating the role of HAT protein TIP60 in regulating functional dynamics of nuclear receptor PXR
Presenter: KARISHMA BAKSHI
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
1360 - The role of downregulated SIRT3 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Presenter: Hanhee Jo
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
1634 - Prediction and Intervention of Colorectal Cancer Risk with Artificial Intelligent System
Presenter: Yang Ge
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
4921 - Measuring the Efficiency of Cancer Care in Europe
Presenter: Rikard Althin
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
1235 - Circulating cell-free DNA isolated from plasma of mesenteric veins predicts prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer patients
Presenter: Chih-Yung Yang
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract
5169 - _lonality of uterine carcinosarcoma as a factor of clinical prognosis.
Presenter: Natalia Levitskaya
Session: Poster display session: Basic science, Endocrine tumours, Gastrointestinal tumours - colorectal & non-colorectal, Head and neck cancer (excluding thyroid), Melanoma and other skin tumours, Neuroendocrine tumours, Thyroid cancer, Tumour biology & pathology
Resources:
Abstract