title: Expression of caspase-14 reduces tumorigenicity of skin cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) possesses anti-carcinogenic properties and was found to induce terminal differentiation in epidermal keratinocytes. Caspase-14, a member of the caspase family associated with epithelial cell differentiation, planned cell death, and barrier formation, is induced by EGCG in normal human epidermal keratinocytes but not in cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A human epidermoid cancer cell line, A431, was co-transfected with a caspase-14-expressing pCMV vector and a GFP/neo-etpressingpCMVvector. Cell growth and tumorigenicity of the stable transfectant were determined in comparison to cells transfected with the control GFP/neo-expressing pCMV vector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of exogenous caspase-14 led to growth inhibition and reduced the tumorigenicity of A431 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pending future studies, caspase-14 could be used as a novel approach to skin cancer therapy via gene delivery systems.
authors: Department of Oral Biology and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA. shsu@mail.mcg.edu
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Hsu
authors: Haiyan
authors: H
authors: Qin
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Dickinson
authors: Ding
authors: D
authors: Xie
authors: Wendy B
authors: WB
authors: Bollag
authors: Hubert
authors: H
authors: Stoppler
authors: Henna
authors: H
authors: Pearl
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Vu
authors: Margaretta
authors: M
authors: Watkins
authors: Meredith
authors: M
authors: Koehler
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Schuster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053456:Caspase 14 / Q000235:genetics*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D053456:Caspase 14