Activator protein-1 (AP-1) is a transcriptional factor that regulates the expression of various genes associated with
tumor invasion and migration. The purpose of our study was to assess the
therapeutic effects of a novel selective
AP-1 inhibitor,
T-5224, in preventing
lymph node metastasis in
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (
HNSCC) in an orthotopic mouse model. We assessed the effect of
T-5224 on
HNSCC cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and
MMP activity by carrying out an in vitro study using an invasion assay, scratch assay,
WST-8 assay, and
gelatin zymography. We also observed morphological changes in
HNSCC cells by time-lapse microscopy. Furthermore, cervical
lymph node metastasis was assessed using an orthotopic
tumor model of human
oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (HSC-3-M3) injected in the tongue of a BALB/c nude mouse.
T-5224 (150 mg/kg) or vehicle was given orally every day for 4 weeks. Animals were killed and assessed for
lymph node metastasis by H&E staining of resected lymph nodes.
T-5224 significantly inhibited the invasion, migration, and
MMP activity of
HNSCC cells in a dose-dependent manner; there was no significant influence on cell proliferation. The antimetastatic effect of
T-5224 was also confirmed in our animal study. The rate of cervical
lymph node metastasis in the model was 40.0% in the T-5224-treated group (
n = 30) versus 74.1% in the vehicle-treated group (n = 27; P < 0.05). In conclusion,
T-5224 inhibited the invasion and migration of
HNSCC cells in vitro, and prevented
lymph node metastasis in
head and neck cancer in an animal model.