Varlitinib induced differential Protein Expression analysis on oral carcinoma cell line: A therapeutic approach

Abstract

Receptor-ligand complex mediated signaling significantly contributesin cellular activities such as growth, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. However, augmented expression of signal transducing receptors and ligands is the most frequent molecular event and major hallmark of oral carcinogenesis. Among these receptors, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) with intracellular tyrosine kinase activity is the most frequently overexpressed molecule by Squamous epithelial cells of oral cavity. Aberrated EGFR mediated signaling has laid the foundation of targeted therapy thus providing rationale for the conducted study. We have selected EGFR pathway as targeted intracellular signaling cascade inOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Deactivating EGFR by blocking the binding sites is likely to result in prevention of intracellular downstream signaling. In this context, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) have come into play. Quinazolines (aromatic heterocyclic compounds) and their derivatives have shown promising clinical outcomes. Present study focused to investigate anti-EGFR potential of quinazoline derivative, varlitinib-a pan-EGFR inhibitor on oral squamous epithelial cell lines. We performed proteomic analyses to identify differential expression pattern of proteins in SCC-25 cells in response to varlitinib treatment. Identified proteins include Binding Immunoglobulin Protein (BiP), Heat Shock Protein 7C (HSP7C), Protein Disulfide Isomerase 1 A (PDIA1), Vimentin (VIME), Keratin type I Cytoskeletal 14 (K1C14), and β-Actin (ACTB). Among these, five proteinswere found to be downregulated upon varlitinib treatment whereas only Keratin type I Cytoskeletal 14 was upregulated. Differential expression of proteins and possible role of varlitinib as potential antitumor drug in oral carcinoma is discussed.