Exogenous expression of caspase-14 induces tumor suppression in human salivary cancer cells by inhibiting tumor vascularization.
BACKGROUND
Current therapeutic approaches to salivary gland cancer are often associated with severe disfigurement and loss of glandular function, which are traumatic to the patients. Exploration of novel treatment approaches, such as gene therapy, is needed.


METHODS
The human salivary gland cancer cell line HSG was transiently transfected with full length human caspase-14 cDNA. Photomicroscopy, BrdU assay, cell counting, MTT assay, and TUNEL assay were applied. To determine the tumorigenicity, tumor volume, tumor pathology and vascularization were analyzed in vivo.


RESULTS
Cell growth and viability were inhibited significantly by transient caspase-14 expression. Caspase-14 expression resulted in a significant reduction of tumorigenicity. Importantly, a significant decrease in tumor blood vessel formation was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Salivary gland cancer cells underwent growth inhibition, cell death, and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo when exogenous caspase-14 was expressed, which could be due, in part, to an inhibitory effect of caspase-14 on tumor vascularization.
Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomotology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Mengjie
M
Wu
Isamu
I
Kodani
Douglas
D
Dickinson
Frank
F
Huff
Kalu U E
KU
Ogbureke
Haiyan
H
Qin
Senthil
S
Arun
Rachel
R
Dulebohn
Mohamed
M
Al-Shabrawey
Amany
A
Tawfik
Susan
S
Prater
Jill
J
Lewis
John
J
Wataha
Regina
R
Messer
Stephen
S
Hsu
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D053456:Caspase 14 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D014162:Transfection; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D053456:Caspase 14