IL-6 promotes head and neck tumor metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the JAK-STAT3-SNAIL signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in tumor metastatic cascade that is characterized by the loss of cell-cell junctions and cell polarity, resulting in the acquisition of migratory and invasive properties. However, the precise molecular events that initiate this complex EMT process in head and neck cancers are poorly understood. Increasing evidence suggests that tumor microenvironment plays an important role in promoting EMT in tumor cells. We have previously shown that head and neck tumors exhibit significantly higher Bcl-2 expression in tumor-associated endothelial cells and overexpression of Bcl-2 alone in tumor-associated endothelial cells was sufficient to enhance tumor metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse m

SUBMITTER: Yadav A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3243808 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature