EMMPRIN-2 expression modulated head and neck cancer cell invasion, migration, and adhesion in vitro, and metastasis in vivo.

<p>Exogenous overexpression of EMMPRIN-2 using an expression construct enhanced head and neck cancer cell invasion (A), migration (B) and adhesion (C), whereas down-regulation of EMMPRIN-2 using siRNA (siEMMPRIN-2) suppressed head and neck cancer cell invasion (A), migration (B) and adhesion (C). The differences in cell invasion, migration and adhesion between the construct- or siRNA-transfected groups and the mock controls were statistically significant (<i>p</i><0.05). The effects of EMMPRIN-2 expression on tumor metastasis in vivo were further investigated in nude mouse models. (D) Tca8113 head and neck cancer cell lines with stably expressed EMMPRIN-2 or a mock control vector were intravenously injected into nude mice. Metastatic foci in the lungs of nude mice were calculated at week 6 after injection. The average number of metastatic foci in the lungs from the mice with the EMMPRIN-2 expressing cells was 28.4 compared to 6.4 in the lungs from the mice injected with cells bearing the control vector (<i>p</i><0.01).