AUTHOR=Qiu Jing , Tang Yongping , Liu Lan , Yu Jiangbo , Chen Zhenggang , Chen Hao , Yuan Rongtao 

TITLE=FOXM1 is regulated by DEPDC1 to facilitate development and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.815998

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.815998

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=While Disheveled, EGL-10, Pleckstrin (DEP) domain containing 1 (DEPDC1) is a new oncogene that has recently been described, the mechanisms and functions of its expression are yet to be determined in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Here, the impact of DEPDC1 on the growth and development of OSCC was investigated using animal models, cell lines and human tissue samples. Elevated DEPDC1 expression within cancer cell lines and human OSCC has been identified. Mechanistic examination showed that restored DEPDC1 expression in vivo and in vitro stimulated OSCC tumor development. In addition, FOXM1 interacts with DEPDC1 as revealed by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence testing. Functionally, DEPDC1 facilitated Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction and β-catenin protein nuclear expression. Together, our results showed that DEPDC1, interacting with FOXM1 via Wnt/β-catenin signaling, closely regulated OSCC pathogenesis, indicating that targeting the novel DEPDC1/FOXM1/β-catenin complex is an important OSCC therapeutic approach.