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αvβ6integrin promotes invasion of squamous carcinoma cells through up‐regulation of matrix metalloproteinase‐9
Author(s) -
Thomas Gareth J.,
Lewis Mark P.,
Hart Ian R.,
Marshall John F.,
Speight Paul M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0215(20010601)92:5<641::aid-ijc1243>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - matrix metalloproteinase , metalloproteinase , matrix metalloproteinase 9 , carcinoma , cancer research , squamous carcinoma , medicine , pathology , biology
The integrin αvβ6 is a fibronectin receptor, which is not detectable on normal epithelium but is neo‐expressed in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous‐cell carcinoma (SCC), suggesting a role in promoting malignant behaviour and tumour progression. We used transfection and retroviral infection to create a panel of SCC cell lines expressing various levels of αvβ6 to examine this possibility. We found that increased expression of αvβ6 in malignant keratinocytes up‐regulates MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 expression and promotes invasion in an MMP‐9‐dependent manner. Our results suggest a possible mechanism for the involvement of αvβ6 in squamous carcinoma in vivo. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.