title: Wnt and frizzled receptors as potential targets for immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: The diverse receptor-ligand pairs of the Wnt and frizzled (Fz) families play important roles during embryonic development, and thus may be overexpressed in cancers that arise from immature cells. Hence, we investigated the expression and function of five Wnt (Wnt-1, 5a, 7a, 10b, 13) and two Fz (Fz-2, 5) genes in 10 head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines (HNSCC). In comparison to normal bronchial or oral epithelial cells, all the HNSCC had markedly increased mRNA levels of Wnt-1, 7a, 10b, and 13, as well as Fz-2. Moreover, the levels of Wnt-1, 10b, and Fz-2 proteins were also markedly increased in HNSCC, relative to normal epithelial cells. Treatment of one HNSCC cell line (SNU 1076) with anti-Wnt-1 antibodies reduced the activity of the Wnt/Fz dependent transcription factor LEF/TCF, and diminished the expression of cyclin D1 and beta-catenin proteins. Blocking Wnt-1 signaling also inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in these cells. These results show that HNSCC cell lines often overexpress one or more Wnt and Fz genes, and suggest that the growth and survival of a subset of HNSCC may depend on the Wnt/Fz pathway. Hence, the Wnt and Fz receptors may be possible targets for immunotherapy therapy of this common cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and The Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA 92093-0663, USA.
authors.forename: Chae-Seo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Maripat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corr
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Carson
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; C489742:FZD2 protein, human; C498589:FZD5 protein, human; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; C489743:Fzd2 protein, mouse; D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; C495247:WNT1 protein, human; C491119:WNT10B protein, human; C115496:WNT2B protein, human; C085389:WNT5A protein, human; C092778:WNT7A protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C492031:Wnt2b protein, mouse; C492030:Wnt2b protein, rat; C490508:Wnt7a protein, mouse; C490507:Wnt7a protein, rat; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins