Role of early growth response-1 as a tumor suppressor in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) exhibits pronounced local invasiveness and a propensity for lymph node metastasis. Given its frequent detection at advanced stages and the consequential postoperative functional impairments, the identification of effective molecular markers for early detection and treatment is imperative. Early growth response-1 (EGR-1) serves as a versatile transcription factor expressed across various cell types. Its role in cancer is contentious, acting as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene. Methods This study undertook comprehensive analyses, including big data scrutiny, expression profiling using 50 OSCC samples, and in vitro functional assessments, to elucidate EGR-1’s involvement in OSCC. Results Comparative analysis revealed significantly reduced EGR-1 expression in oral cancer tissues compared to healthy controls or normal oral mucosa. In vitro experimentation with multiple OSCC cell lines demonstrated that EGR-1 curbed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities. Additionally, it was observed that EGR-1 prompted G0/G1 arrest in OSCC cells by modulating the activity of cell cycle regulators. Conclusions These findings strongly support EGR-1’s tumor-suppressive role in OSCC and hint at the potential for novel OSCC therapies aimed at restoring aberrant EGR-1 function. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12672-024-01611-y.