Objective: To observe the effect of peptide-conjugated quantum dots with a maximal emission of 655 nm (QD655) on growth, proliferation, apoptosis and lymphatic metastasis of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113 and mouse uterine cervix carcinoma U14 in vivo.
Methods: Tca8113 and U14 cells were labeled by QD655 (Tca8113-QD655, U14-QD655). Tca8113-QD655 and U14-QD655 were inoculated subcutaneously into nude mice and Kunming mice. The tumor formation of Tca8113-QD655 and Tca8113, U14-QD655 and U14 was observed and compared in vivo. The proliferation and apoptosis of Tca8113-QD655 and Tca8113, U14-QD655 and U14 cells from tumors formed in vivo were analyzed by flow cytometry. U14-QD655 and U14 were inoculated into the buccal mucosa of Kunming mice to establish the cervical lymph node metastasis model of buccal cancer. The cervical lymph node metastatic ability of U14-QD655 and U14 was compared.
Results: The tumor weight and volume of Tca8113-QD655 and Tca8113, U14-QD655 and U14 in vivo were not significantly different (P>0.05), the cell proliferation index and apoptosis index of Tca8113-QD655 and Tca8113, U14-QD655 and U14 in vivo were not significantly different (P>0.05). The cervical lymph node metastasis rate of U14-QD655 and U14 buccal cancer were not significantly different (P>0.05).
Conclusions: QD showed no effects on tumorigenicity and lymph node metastasis of Tca8113 and U14 cells. These results provide the scientific basis for noninvasive imaging and long-term tracing study.