1. Academic Validation
  2. Upregulation of CSF-1 is correlated with elevated TAM infiltration and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Upregulation of CSF-1 is correlated with elevated TAM infiltration and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

  • Am J Transl Res. 2020 Oct 15;12(10):6235-6249.
Xiao-Yu Guo 1 2 Jia-Yi Zhang 1 3 Xin-Zhan Shi 1 4 Qiong Wang 1 3 Wei-Li Shen 1 3 Wei-Wen Zhu 1 3 Lai-Kui Liu 1 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
  • 2 Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
  • 3 Department of Basic Science of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
  • 4 Department of Periodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
PMID: 33194026
Abstract

Mounting lines of evidence indicated that the "colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1)/tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)" signature plays an important role in the progression, invasion and metastasis of multiple tumors. However, the potential role of CSF-1/TAM in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains largely unknown. In the present study, the expression of CSF-1 from 99 OSCC specimens and its correlation with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes were investigated. Meanwhile, the correlation between CSF-1 expression and TAM infiltration was also explored. To investigate the potential effect of CSF-1 on tumor growth, nude mice were subcutaneously injected with Cal27 cell line and a small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1 (BZL945). The results showed that the high expression rate of CSF-1 (52%) was found in OSCC, and the upregulation of CSF-1 was closely correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between a high CSF-1 level and elevated TAM infiltration. The xenograft model study showed that CSF-1 signal blockade inhibited tumor growth, with a significant synchronous decrease in CSF-1 expression and TAM infiltration. Overall, our findings indicated that CSF-1 plays a crucial role in TAMs-mediated OSCC tumor progression and invasion. The "CSF-1/TAM" signaling axis may serve as a prospective target for anti-tumor therapy of OSCC.

Keywords

Macrophage colony stimulating factor-1; oral squamous cell carcinoma; tumor microenvironment; tumor-associated macrophages.

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