Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arises from the mucosal epithelium in the oral cavity, pharynx, sino-nasal region, and larynx. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) represents one-third of all head and neck cancers. Dysregulated RNA-related pathways define an important molecular signature in this aggressive carcinoma. The Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein regulates fundamental aspects of the RNA metabolism but, curiously, its role in cancer is virtually unknown. For the first time, here, we focus on the SMN in the cancer context. We conducted a pilot study in a total of 20 patients with LSCC where the SMN was found overexpressed at both the protein and transcript levels. By a cellular model of human laryngeal carcinoma, we demonstrated that the SMN impacts cancer-relevant behaviors and perturbs key players of cell migration, invasion, and adhesion. Furthermore, in LSCC we showed a physical interaction between the SMN and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), whose overexpression is an important feature in these tumors. This study proposes the SMN protein as a novel therapeutic target in LSSC and likely in the whole spectrum of HNSCC. Overall, we provide the first analysis of the SMN in human cancer.

The RNA-binding protein SMN as a novel player in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma / Gabanella, Francesca; Colizza, Andrea; Chiara Mottola, Maria; Francati, Silvia; Blaconà, Giovanna; Petrella, Carla; Barbato, Christian; Greco, Antonio; Ralli, Massimo; Fiore, Marco; Corbi, Nicoletta; Ferraguti, Giampiero; Corsi, Alessandro; Minni, Antonio; DE VINCENTIIS, Marco; Passananti, Claudio; Grazia Di Certo, Maria. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. - ISSN 1422-0067. - 24:2(2023), pp. 1-19. [10.3390/ijms24021794]

The RNA-binding protein SMN as a novel player in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Andrea Colizza
Secondo
Investigation
;
Silvia Francati
Formal Analysis
;
Giovanna Blaconà
Formal Analysis
;
Antonio Greco
Supervision
;
Massimo Ralli
Supervision
;
Giampiero Ferraguti
Methodology
;
Alessandro Corsi
Writing – Review & Editing
;
Antonio Minni
Supervision
;
Marco de Vincentiis
Project Administration
;
2023

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arises from the mucosal epithelium in the oral cavity, pharynx, sino-nasal region, and larynx. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) represents one-third of all head and neck cancers. Dysregulated RNA-related pathways define an important molecular signature in this aggressive carcinoma. The Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein regulates fundamental aspects of the RNA metabolism but, curiously, its role in cancer is virtually unknown. For the first time, here, we focus on the SMN in the cancer context. We conducted a pilot study in a total of 20 patients with LSCC where the SMN was found overexpressed at both the protein and transcript levels. By a cellular model of human laryngeal carcinoma, we demonstrated that the SMN impacts cancer-relevant behaviors and perturbs key players of cell migration, invasion, and adhesion. Furthermore, in LSCC we showed a physical interaction between the SMN and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), whose overexpression is an important feature in these tumors. This study proposes the SMN protein as a novel therapeutic target in LSSC and likely in the whole spectrum of HNSCC. Overall, we provide the first analysis of the SMN in human cancer.
2023
SMN; RNA-binding proteins; head and neck cancers; squamous cell carcinoma; EGFR
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
The RNA-binding protein SMN as a novel player in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma / Gabanella, Francesca; Colizza, Andrea; Chiara Mottola, Maria; Francati, Silvia; Blaconà, Giovanna; Petrella, Carla; Barbato, Christian; Greco, Antonio; Ralli, Massimo; Fiore, Marco; Corbi, Nicoletta; Ferraguti, Giampiero; Corsi, Alessandro; Minni, Antonio; DE VINCENTIIS, Marco; Passananti, Claudio; Grazia Di Certo, Maria. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. - ISSN 1422-0067. - 24:2(2023), pp. 1-19. [10.3390/ijms24021794]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1664896
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