Objective: To observe if adhesion molecules can affect the invasion behavior of squamous cell carcinoma cell line in 3-Dimension collagen gel in vitro. It will provide the experimental basis for clinic application of adhesion molecules as marker to evaluate the prognosis of oral cancer patients, and effectively improve the survival rate of oral cancer patients in future.
Methods: Immumohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of adhesion molecules E-cadherin(E-cad) and CD44v6 in squamous cell carcinma cell line(Tca8113), as well as to build a 3-dimension collagen gel system in vitro. In this system the effect of invasion behavior of Tca8113 cells was observed using antibodies of adhesion molecules as a blocker.
Results: Significant expression of E-cad in the Tca8113 cells was observed, but that of CD44v6 was insignificant. 3-dimension collagen gel assay in vitro revealed that E-cad antibodies could effectively decrease the number of invaded cells and the degree of Tca8113 cells migrated into gel (P=0.013,0.01<P<0.05).
Conclusion: E-cad can suppress the invasion of squamous cell carcinoma cells into collagen gel in vitro. It indicates that E-cad may be a helpful marker to evaluate the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.