RUNX3 Has an Oncogenic Role in Head and Neck Cancer

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2009 Jun 13

PMID 19521519

Citations 42

Authors

Takaaki Tsunematsu

Yasusei Kudo

Shinji Iizuka

Ikuko Ogawa

Tsuyoshi Fujita

Hidemi Kurihara

Yoshimitsu Abiko

Takashi Takata

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a tumor suppressor of cancer and appears to be an important component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ss)-induced tumor suppression pathway. Surprisingly, we found that RUNX3 expression level in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues, which is one of the most common types of human cancer, was higher than that in normal tissues by a previously published microarray dataset in our preliminary study. Therefore, here we examined the oncogenic role of RUNX3 in HNSCC.

Principal Findings: Frequent RUNX3 expression and its correlation with malignant behavior were observed in HNSCC. Ectopic RUNX3 overexpression promoted cell growth and inhibited serum starvation-induced apoptosis and chemotherapeutic drug induced apoptosis in HNSCC cells. These findings were confirmed by RUNX3 knockdown. Moreover, RUNX3 overexpression enhanced tumorsphere formation. RUNX3 expression level was well correlated with the methylation status in HNSCC cells. Moreover, RUNX3 expression was low due to the methylation of its promoter in normal oral epithelial cells.

Conclusions/significance: Our findings suggest that i) RUNX3 has an oncogenic role in HNSCC, ii) RUNX3 expression observed in HNSCC may be caused in part by demethylation during cancer development, and iii) RUNX3 expression can be a useful marker for predicting malignant behavior and the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs in HNSCC.

Citing Articles

Multiple Roles of the RUNX Gene Family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Potential Clinical Implications.

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Epigenetic methylation changes: implication as biomarkers in oral and maxillofacial area cancers.

Aghiorghiesei O, Irimie A, Braicu C, Raduly L, Nutu A, Balint E Med Pharm Rep. 2023; 96(3):310-317.

PMID: 37577021 PMC: 10419680. DOI: 10.15386/mpr-2570.

Deficiency-Dependent Oncogenicity of Runx3.

Ito K, Otani S, Date Y Cells. 2023; 12(8).

PMID: 37190031 PMC: 10137280. DOI: 10.3390/cells12081122.

Roy A, Chauhan S, Bhattacharya S, Jakhmola V, Tyagi K, Sachdeva A J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023; 149(11):9409-9423.

PMID: 37081242 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04769-0.

Role of RUNX3 in Restriction Point Regulation.

Lee J, Lee Y, Kim M, Chi X, Kim D, Bae S Cells. 2023; 12(5).

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