DEC1 is a potential marker of early metastasis in Oral squamous cell carcinoma

Ting Mao; Weijun Chen; Haofeng Xiong; Can Wang; Liudi Yang; Xin Hu; Kun Xia; Zijia Wang; Tong Su

doi:10.1016/j.tice.2023.102094

DEC1 is a potential marker of early metastasis in Oral squamous cell carcinoma

Tissue Cell. 2023 Jun:82:102094. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102094. Epub 2023 Apr 17.

Authors

Ting Mao¹, Weijun Chen², Haofeng Xiong², Can Wang², Liudi Yang², Xin Hu², Kun Xia³, Zijia Wang⁴, Tong Su⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Stomatology, The first hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
³ Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address: wangzijia@csu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address: sutong@csu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37094538
DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102094

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of differentiated embryonic-chondrocyte expressed gene 1 (DEC1) in early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis.

Methods and materials: This study collected normal oral mucosas (NOM) and OSCC tissues from Xiangya Hospital for immunohistochemistry to detect the expressions of DEC1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related molecules. Correlation analysis between the expressions of the cytoplasmic DEC1 and EMT-related molecules was performed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to estimate Recurrence-free survival (RFS). After knocking down DEC1, cell migration and the expressions of EMT-related molecules were evaluated in HN6 cells by cell scratch assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot.

Results: Immunohistochemistry showed that the subcellular location of DEC1 expression was different between OSCC and NOM tissues. The cytoplasmic expression of DEC1 in OSCC tissues was significantly higher than in NOM tissues, and its expression was highest in early OSCC patients with metastasis. In addition, the cytoplasmic DEC1 was negatively correlated with the E-cadherin and β-catenin, but positively correlated with the N-cadherin in OSCC and NOM tissues. In vitro assays showed that DEC1 knockdown inhibited cell migration and EMT in HN6 cells.

Conclusion: DEC1 could serve as a potential predictive marker for early OSCC metastasis.

Keywords: Differentiated embryonic-chondrocyte expressed gene 1; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Tumor metastasis.

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Humans
Mouth Neoplasms* / pathology
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck