Matrix stiffness mechanically conditions EMT and migratory behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Tumors are composed of heterogeneous phenotypes, each having different sensitivities to the microenvironment. One microenvironment characteristic - matrix stiffness - helps to regulate malignant transformation and invasion in mammary tumors, but its influence on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unclear. We observed that, on stiff matrices, a highly invasive OSCC cell line (SCC25) comprising a low E-cad to N-cad ratio (InvH/E:NL; SCC25) had increased migration velocity and decreased adhesion strength compared to a less invasive OSCC cell line (Cal27) with high E-cad to N-cad ratio (InvL/E:NH; Cal27). However, InvL/E:NH cells acquire a mesenchymal signature and begin to migrate faster when exposed to prolonged time on a stiff niche, suggesting that cells can be mechanically conditioned

SUBMITTER: Matte BF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6340137 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature