Open Access

PHF20 inhibition promotes apoptosis and cisplatin chemosensitivity via the OCT4‑p‑STAT3‑MCL1 signaling pathway in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Xiuxiu Liu
    • Zhancheng Zhang
    • Shifeng Kan
    • Zhenghua Lv
    • Shengli Zhou
    • Xianfang Liu
    • Peihang Jing
    • Wei Xu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 7, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2021.5218
  • Article Number: 38
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Cisplatin is a widely used platinum‑based chemotherapeutic agent for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). However, resistance to cisplatin limits its use for the treatment of HSCC, and the underlying molecular mechanism requires further investigation. The present study performed functional assays to determine whether the expression of plant homeodomain finger protein 20 (PHF20) may be involved in the apoptosis and cisplatin resistance of HSCC. The expression levels of PHF20 were higher in cisplatin‑resistant HSCC cells compared with those in cisplatin‑sensitive cells. The inhibition of PHF20 suppressed cell viability but did not affect the migratory and invasive abilities of HSCC cells compared with those of negative control‑transfected cells. Furthermore, PHF20 inhibition reduced cell viability by enhancing apoptosis compared with those in the control cells in vitro. Notably, the inhibition of PHF20 sensitized HSCC cells to cisplatin, thus increasing apoptosis via the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)‑myeloid cell leukemia‑1 (MCL1) pathway. Octamer‑binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) overexpression restored phosphorylated STAT3‑MCL1‑mediated apoptosis induced by PHF20 inhibition. In vivo experiments confirmed that PHF20 silencing induced tumor growth and increased apoptosis in HSCC cells compared with those in the control cells. Thus, PHF20 inhibition may promote apoptosis and improve cisplatin chemosensitivity via the OCT4‑p‑STAT3‑MCL1 signaling pathway in HSCC.
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July-2021
Volume 59 Issue 1

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu X, Zhang Z, Kan S, Lv Z, Zhou S, Liu X, Jing P and Xu W: PHF20 inhibition promotes apoptosis and cisplatin chemosensitivity via the OCT4‑p‑STAT3‑MCL1 signaling pathway in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 59: 38, 2021
APA
Liu, X., Zhang, Z., Kan, S., Lv, Z., Zhou, S., Liu, X. ... Xu, W. (2021). PHF20 inhibition promotes apoptosis and cisplatin chemosensitivity via the OCT4‑p‑STAT3‑MCL1 signaling pathway in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. International Journal of Oncology, 59, 38. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2021.5218
MLA
Liu, X., Zhang, Z., Kan, S., Lv, Z., Zhou, S., Liu, X., Jing, P., Xu, W."PHF20 inhibition promotes apoptosis and cisplatin chemosensitivity via the OCT4‑p‑STAT3‑MCL1 signaling pathway in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma". International Journal of Oncology 59.1 (2021): 38.
Chicago
Liu, X., Zhang, Z., Kan, S., Lv, Z., Zhou, S., Liu, X., Jing, P., Xu, W."PHF20 inhibition promotes apoptosis and cisplatin chemosensitivity via the OCT4‑p‑STAT3‑MCL1 signaling pathway in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma". International Journal of Oncology 59, no. 1 (2021): 38. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2021.5218