Effect of sex steroid hormones on tongue cancer cells in vitro

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of sex steroid hormones on tongue cancer cells in vitro

AU - Peltonen, Johanna

AU - Tuomainen, Katja

AU - Sallinen, Tobias

AU - Faress, Islam

AU - Suleymanova, Ilida

AU - Al-Samadi, Ahmed

AU - Salo, Tuula

AU - Åström, Pirjo

PY - 2020/11

Y1 - 2020/11

N2 - Background: Tongue cancer is more common in men than in women. Yet the effects of sex steroid hormones on the behaviour of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) are not well known. Matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP8) is expressed in OTSCC and can degrade estrogen receptors (ERs). Materials and Methods: Western blot was used to examine the levels of ERβ in OTSCC cell lines (HSC-3 and SCC-25). We evaluated the effects of estradiol and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on HSC-3 and SCC-25 cell migration, invasion and viability. The effect of estradiol on the invasion of MMP8-overexpressing (MMP8+) and empty vector HSC-3 cells was examined using 3D spheroid invasion assay. Results: Both HSC-3 and SCC-25 cells expressed ERβ. In scratch assay, estradiol, but not DHT, reduced the migration and invasion of HSC-3 and SCC-25 cells. MMP8+ HSC-3 cells showed weaker invasion than empty vector cells, in line with previous reports. However, MMP8 overexpression did not alter the effect of estradiol on HSC-3 cell invasion in spheroid assay. Conclusion: Estradiol inhibited the migration and invasion of OTSCC cells, whereas DHT had no effect. Our data suggest that MMP8 does not modulate the effect of estradiol in OTSCC cells. However, the sex difference in OTSCC incidence might partly be due to protective actions of estradiol in epithelial cell carcinogenesis.

AB - Background: Tongue cancer is more common in men than in women. Yet the effects of sex steroid hormones on the behaviour of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) are not well known. Matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP8) is expressed in OTSCC and can degrade estrogen receptors (ERs). Materials and Methods: Western blot was used to examine the levels of ERβ in OTSCC cell lines (HSC-3 and SCC-25). We evaluated the effects of estradiol and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on HSC-3 and SCC-25 cell migration, invasion and viability. The effect of estradiol on the invasion of MMP8-overexpressing (MMP8+) and empty vector HSC-3 cells was examined using 3D spheroid invasion assay. Results: Both HSC-3 and SCC-25 cells expressed ERβ. In scratch assay, estradiol, but not DHT, reduced the migration and invasion of HSC-3 and SCC-25 cells. MMP8+ HSC-3 cells showed weaker invasion than empty vector cells, in line with previous reports. However, MMP8 overexpression did not alter the effect of estradiol on HSC-3 cell invasion in spheroid assay. Conclusion: Estradiol inhibited the migration and invasion of OTSCC cells, whereas DHT had no effect. Our data suggest that MMP8 does not modulate the effect of estradiol in OTSCC cells. However, the sex difference in OTSCC incidence might partly be due to protective actions of estradiol in epithelial cell carcinogenesis.

KW - Estradiol

KW - MMP8

KW - Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

KW - Sex hormones

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85094807554&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.21873/anticanres.14624

DO - 10.21873/anticanres.14624

M3 - Review

C2 - 33109541

AN - SCOPUS:85094807554

SN - 0250-7005

VL - 40

SP - 6029

EP - 6037

JO - Anticancer Research

JF - Anticancer Research

IS - 11

ER -