Effect of EPHB6 knockdown on migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity of oral cancer cells in vitro

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Abstract
Introduction. In recent years, a rising incidence of oral cancer (OC) has been observed among young adults without traditional risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus infection). An aggressive clinical course and a high recurrence rate are observed in patients of this age group. Therefore, there is a growing need to identify novel molecular alterations that could elucidate the mechanisms driving the disease progression. Previously, we identified mutations in the EPHB6 gene associated with early-onset OC recurrence. Aim. To evaluate the effect of EPHB6 knockdown on the functional characteristics of OC cells in vitro. Materials and methods. The OC cell line Cal-27 was used in this study. Gene knockdown was induced using small interfering RNAs. Results. EPHB6 knockdown resulted in a 90 % reduction in gene expression relative to the control, which was accompanied by alterations in cellular functional properties, including inhibition of migration and invasion, as well as reduced tumorigenic capacity in three-dimensional cultures. Conclusion. These findings shed light on the potential mechanisms by which EPHB6 contributes to early-onset OC progression.

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