Candida albicans Enhances the Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo.

ABSTRACT: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with oral Candida albicans infection, although it is unclear whether the fungus promotes the genesis and progression of OSCC or whether cancer facilitates fungal growth. In this study, we investigated whether C. albicans can potentiate OSCC tumor development and progression. In vitro, the presence of live C. albicans, but not Candida parapsilosis, enhanced the progression of OSCC by stimulating the production of matrix metalloproteinases, oncometabolites, protumor signaling pathways, and overexpression of prognostic marker genes associated with metastatic events. C. albicans also upregulated oncogenes in nonmalignant cells. Using a newly established xenograft in vivo mouse model to investigate OSCC-C. albicans interactions, or

SUBMITTER: Vadovics M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8725587 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature