title: Snail overexpression induces an epithelial to mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell-like properties in SCC9 cells.
abstract: Local invasiveness and distant metastasis are critical factors that contribute to oral squamous cell carcinoma-related deaths. Increasing evidence has shown that the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in cancer progression and is associated with the 'stemness' of cancer cells. Snail is a transcriptional factor that can induce EMT and preserve stem-cell function, which may induce resistance to radio- and chemotherapies in the cells. In the present study, SCC9 cells were transfected with an empty vector or a vector encoding human Snail (SCC9-S). Overexpression of Snail induced SCC9 cells to undergo EMT, in which the cells presented a fibroblast-like appearance, downregulated the epithelial markers E-cadherin and β-catenin, upregulated the mesenchymal marker vimentin, and associated with highly invasive and metastatic properties. Furthermore, the induction of EMT promoted cancer stem cell (CSC)-like characteristics in the SCC9-S cells, such as low proliferation, self-renewal, and CSC-like markers expression. These results indicate that overexpression of Snail induces EMT and promotes CSC-like traits in the SCC9 cells. Further understanding the role of Snail in cancer progression may reveal new targets for the prevention or therapy of oral cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li-Fang
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Cong-Chong
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tian-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Zi-Lu
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jin-Hai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Lai-Kui
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014746:Vimentin; D051176:beta Catenin