Hyperthermia inhibited the migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma through TWIST 2

Background Hyperthermia has been shown promising in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ( HNSCC ); however, the mechanism underlying hyperthermia reducing tumor metastasis is poorly elucidated. TWIST 2, an important transcription factor of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition ( EMT ), plays a critical role in the tumor progression and metastasis. The role of TWIST 2 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma ( TSCC ) and its association with hyperthermia still have not been reported. Method The correlations between TWIST 2 expression and the clinical‐pathologic characteristics of 89 patients with TSCC were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. TSCC cell lines transfected with si RNA against TWIST 2 were heated for 40 min at 42.5°C, and the migration capability of cells was examined by migration assay. Xenograft tumors in nude mice were treated by hyperthermia, and TWIST 2 expression was measured. Results Our data showed that TWIST 2 expression was associated with the metastasis of human TSCC . In Tca8113 and Cal‐27 cells, TWIST 2‐si RNA treatment can reduce cell migration ability and has no effect on the cell proliferation and apoptosis. Hyperthermia can decrease the level of TWIST 2 in TSCC and inhibit the migration of cells. Conclusions This demonstrated that hyperthermia might decrease the migration of Tca8113 and Cal‐27 cells by reducing TWIST 2 expression. Altogether, these findings suggest an as yet undescribed link between TWIST 2 and hyperthermia in TSCC .