Effects of fibroblast growth inhibitor on proliferation and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract 

Development of a new therapeutic approach to improve the prognosis of high grade invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma is needed. To elucidate the effect of a fibroblast inhibitor (tranilast), we investigated the proliferation and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a mouse model. The effect of tranilast on tumour growth, lymph node metastases, microvessel density, and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling index of oral squamous cell carcinoma implanted into the tongue of nude mice was evaluated. Tumour growth and the incidence of cervical lymph node metastases were significantly suppressed by the administration of tranilast. The amount of fibrous tissue, the microvessel density, and the PCNA labelling index of tumour were also significantly reduced. Administration of a fibroblast inhibitor may well be clinically effective for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords:  Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Lymph node metastases, Fibroblast inhibitor, Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Microvessel density

Abbreviations:  VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor, MEM, minimum essential medium, PCNA, proliferation cell nuclear antigen, FBS, foetal bovine serum, MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipheny-tetrazolium bromide.