2. Academic Validation
  3. WNT7B promotes cancer progression via WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway and predicts a poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

WNT7B promotes cancer progression via WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway and predicts a poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

  • BMC Oral Health. 2024 Nov 1;24(1):1335. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-05113-9.
Yang Li # 1 2 3,  Li Huang # 4,  Qi Hu 5,  Ke Zheng 6,  Yuxiang Yan 1 2,  Ting Lan 1,  Dali Zheng 7 8,  Youguang Lu 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, 350004, China.
  • 2 Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou, 350000, China.
  • 3 Department of Oral Pathology, College of Stomatology, Ningxia Medical University, South Sheng Li Street 804, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
  • 4 Department of Dentistry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
  • 5 College of Humanities and Management, Ningxia Medical University, South Sheng Li Street 1160, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
  • 6 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
  • 7 Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, 350004, China. dalizheng@fjmu.edu.cn.
  • 8 Key Laboratory of Stomatology of Fujian Province, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, 350004, China. dalizheng@fjmu.edu.cn.
  • 9 Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, 350004, China. fjlyg63@fjmu.edu.cn.
  • 10 Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou, 350000, China. fjlyg63@fjmu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39487430 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-05113-9
Abstract

Background: WNT7B is a glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. This study aimed to investigate the role of WNT7B in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: Bioinformatic databases, immunohistochemistry, a real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect WNT7B expression in OSCC. The clinical and prognostic importance of WNT7B expression was evaluated. WNT7B expression was examined in oral leukoplakia and carcinoma induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide in mice. Loss- and gain-of-function analyses were performed to elucidate the role of WNT7B in OSCC cells. Subcutaneous tumor model was established to observe the effects of WNT7B on tumor growth. Co-Immunoprecipitation was used to explore the Frizzled receptors that WNT7B may bind to.

Results: WNT7B upregulated in OSCC and associated with lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, and an unfavorable prognosis in patients with OSCC. A gradual increased in WNT7B expression during the malignant progression of OSCC. WNT7B promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, while silencing WNT7B abolished these effects. Knocking down the expression of WNT7B inhibits tumor growth in vivo. WNT7B functions by binding to the Frizzled 7 receptor and facilitates the nuclear translocation of β-catenin.

Conclusions: WNT7B contributes to the progression of OSCC by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings highlight the potential of WNT7B as a novel prognostic biomarker and promising therapeutic target for OSCC.

Keywords

Oral squamous cell carcinoma; WNT/β-catenin; WNT7B; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; prognosis.

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