Acquisition of EMT phenotype in the gefitinib-resistant cells of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line through Akt/GSK-3β/snail signalling pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be associated with chemoresistance as well as increased invasion/metastasis. However, the relationship between EMT and resistance to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -targeting drug in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the acquisition of EMT by gefitinib in HNSCC cell line (UMSCC81B).

Methods

We isolated fibroblastoid variant (81B-Fb) from gefitinib-resistant UMSCC81B-GR3 cells obtained after increasing the doses of gefitinib treatment in vitro and examined EMT and its underlying mechanism.

Result

81B-Fb cells exhibited fibroblast-like morphology, increased motility, loss of E-cadherin, acquisition of vimentin and snail expression. In 81

SUBMITTER: Maseki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3304404 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature