Rewiring of an epithelial differentiation factor, miR-203, to inhibit human squamous cell carcinoma metastasis.

ABSTRACT: Metastatic colonization of distant organs underpins the majority of human-cancer-related deaths, including deaths from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We report that miR-203, a miRNA that triggers differentiation in multilayered epithelia, inhibits multiple postextravasation events during HNSCC lung metastasis. Inducible reactivation of miR-203 in already established lung metastases reduces the overall metastatic burden. Using an integrated approach, we reveal that miR-203 inhibits metastasis independently of its effects on differentiation. In vivo genetic reconstitution experiments show that miR-203 inhibits lung metastasis by suppressing the prometastatic activities of three factors involved in cytoskeletal dynamics (LASP1), extracellular matrix remodeling (SPARC), and cel

SUBMITTER: Benaich N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4536294 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature