Oral Cancer: Reduced Level of CPAP Associated Finding

In a groundbreaking study published in Oncotarget, a team of researchers led by Dr. Radhika Gudi and Dr. Chenthamarakshan Vasu from the University of Miami have explored the role of a microtubule/tubulin binding protein, CPAP, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

The study, titled "Loss of CPAP causes sustained EGFR signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral cancer," begins to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which centrosome/MTOC associated proteins are involved in preventing tumorigenesis in OSCC.

OSCC is a significant concern globally, as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which includes OSCC, is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Each year, more than 600,000 new patients are diagnosed, and over 300,000 deaths occur due to this disease.

The research reveals that EGFR is significantly altered in OSCC, and its prolonged signaling drives uncontrolled proliferation of tumor cells. Interestingly, the study found that CPAP protein levels were higher in EGF treated OSCC cells as well as in oral cancer tissues. The loss of CPAP expression, however, leads to an increase in EGFR levels and its signaling, and enhances the EMT features and invasiveness of OSCC cells.

CPAP is critical for centriole biogenesis and the normal functioning of the centrosome. The depletion of CPAP enhances the tumorigenicity of OSCC cells in a xeno-transplant model. CPAP loss-associated EMT features and invasiveness of multiple OSCC cells were attenuated upon depletion of EGFR in them.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence that microtubule inhibition can cause EGFR inactivation or increase the sensitivity to EGFR targeting drugs in various cancers, including OSCC. Recent studies have shown that this approach may offer a promising strategy for treating OSCC.

The full text of the study can be accessed at https://www.oncotarget.com/article/27932/text/. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected] or 18009220957x105. Oncotarget can be learned more about at https://www.oncotarget.com. The journal can also be connected with through various social media platforms: SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/oncotarget, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/, Twitter - https://twitter.com/oncotarget, LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget, Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/, and Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/.

Correspondence for the study can be directed to Dr. Radhika Gudi at [email protected] and Dr. Chenthamarakshan Vasu at [email protected]. The study's DOI is 10.18632/oncotarget.27932. Impact Journals, LLC, the publisher of Oncotarget, can be visited at https://www.ImpactJournals.com. Copyright © 2021 Impact Journals, LLC.