title: PTEN expression is involved in the invasive properties of HNSCC: a key protein to consider in locoregional recurrence.
abstract: Specific phenotypic effects of PTEN in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain poorly defined without a direct causal connection between the loss of PTEN function and the progression of cancer. Here, we describe a potential role for PTEN in cancer progression. Using an shRNA targeting PTEN in HNSCC cells, we show that the loss of PTEN expression is associated with a decrease of cell adhesion, a reduction in E-cadherin expression while cell migration is promoted. Together with the tissue organization and molecular markers expressed in tumors derived from shPTEN cells in vivo, this study indicates that HNSCC cells deficient in PTEN expression undergo an epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, our results suggest that both the low levels of expression and subcellular localization of PTEN are involved in the EMT phenotype, and ultimately in possible locoregional reccurences. We hypothesize that the loss of PTEN expression as well as the subcellular localization could be of interest as a predictive marker of recurrence in HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, CRAN, UMR 7039, Campus Science, BP 70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54505, France.
authors.forename: Jihane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mriouah
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, CRAN, UMR 7039, Campus Science, BP 70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54505, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boura
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, CRAN, UMR 7039, Campus Science, BP 70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54505, France.
authors.forename: Myriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gargouri
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, CRAN, UMR 7039, Campus Science, BP 70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54505, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Plénat
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, CRAN, UMR 7039, Campus Science, BP 70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54505, France.
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faivre
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human