CRBP-1 over-expression is associated with poor prognosis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

BackgroundTongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is one of the most common malignancies of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Cellular retinol binding protein-1 (CRBP-1) as a carrier protein transports retinol from the liver storage site to peripheral tissue. Up-regulated expression of CRBP-1 is associated with some tumor types such as prostate cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer as reported, but its role in TSCC remains uncertain.MethodsIn this study, an integrated bioinformatics analysis based on the multiple cancer microarray data sets available from Oncomine database was conducted to view the differential expression of CRBP-1 between TSCC and the adjacent non-tumorous tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays were performed to investigate CRBP-1 expression in 101 paraffin-embeded TSCC tissues and 48 pairs of freshly frozen tissues. Kaplan-Meier curve and univariate and multivariate Cox-regression analysis were used to estimate the association between CRBP-1 expression and patients’ prognosis. Then western blotting, MTT, transwell migration and invasion assays were performed in TSCC cell lines to investigate the effects of CRBP-1 on cellular proliferation and invasion.ResultsCompared with the matched adjacent non-tumorous tissues, the expression of CRBP-1 was significantly up-regulated in TSCC tissues, which correlated with the differentiation state (P = 0.003), N classification (P = 0.048), the clinical stage (P = 0.048) and death (P = 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that TSCC patients with higher CRBP-1 expression levels had lower overall survival rates than those with lower CRBP-1 expression levels. A univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that CRBP-1 was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we knocked down CRBP-1 expression and observed that TSCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro were significantly blocked, as determined by MTT and transwell assays.ConclusionsUp-regulated expression of CRBP-1 is associated with poor prognosis in TSCC, so it might potentially serve as an additional prognostic marker, and the inhibition of CRBP-1 might provide new therapeutic approaches for TSCC.

FSCN1 is an effective marker of poor prognosis and a potential therapeutic target in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma

“…The proteins were then transferred onto polyvinylidene fluoride membranes and incubated with rabbit anti-FSCN1antibody or mouse anti-β-Actin antibody at 4 °C overnight at 1/1000 dilution and 1/50,000 dilution, respectively 6 . Afterward, the membranes were incubated with secondary antibody at room temperature for 30 min and visualized using the ECL system (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA) 15 .…”

Comprehensive analysis of lncRNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network in tongue squamous cell carcinoma

“…Recently, the incidence and mortality of TSCC have steadily risen in the United States (Siegel et al, 2014; Siegel, Miller & Jemal, 2015; Siegel, Miller & Jemal, 2016; Siegel, Miller & Jemal, 2017; Siegel, Miller & Jemal, 2018). Despite significant advancements in surgical excision, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, mortality rates and recurrence rates for this cancer remain high (Adeel & Suhail, 2016; Chen et al, 2018). For these reasons, the molecular mechanisms of TSCC tumorigenesis urgently require further study; potential biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in this cancer should be identified in order to improve clinical outcomes.…”

The HSP90/Akt pathway may mediate artemether‐induced apoptosis of Cal27 cells

“…The quality of life in TSCC patients is often reduced by dysphasia, as well as difficulties in chewing and swallowing. Surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have yielded significant advancements, although the death and recurrence rates of this cancer are still high . Accumulating evidence shows that artemisinin and its derivatives have obvious cytotoxic and inhibitory effects on different cancer cells.…”