Histone deacetylase inhibition modulates E-cadherin expression and suppresses migration and invasion of anaplastic thyroid cancer cells.

Context: Anaplastic thyroid cancer cells are characterized by a mesenchymal phenotype, as revealed by spindle-shaped cells and absent or reduced levels of E-cadherin. Epigenetic silencing is considered one of the leading mechanisms of E-cadherin impairment, which causes the acquisition of the invasive and metastatic phenotype of anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Objectives: In this study we investigated the effects of histone deacetylase inhibition on E-cadherin expression, cell motility, and invasion in anaplastic thyroid cancer cell cultures.

Design: Three stabilized cell lines and primary cultures of anaplastic thyroid cancer were treated with various histone deacetylase inhibitors. After treatment, we evaluated histone acetylation by Western blotting and E-cadherin expression by RT-real time PCR. The proper localization of E-cadherin/β-catenin complex was assessed by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Transcription activity of β-catenin was measured by luciferase reporter gene and cyclin D1 expression. The effect on cell motility and invasion was studied both in vitro using scratch-wound and transwell invasion assays and in anaplastic thyroid carcinomas tumor xenografts in mice in vivo.

Results: Histone deacetylase inhibition induced the E-cadherin expression and the proper membrane localization of the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex, leading to reduced cancer cell migration and invasion.

Conclusions: We here demonstrate an additional molecular mechanism for the anticancer effect of histone deacetylase inhibition. The antiinvasive effect in addition to the cytotoxic activity of histone deacetylase inhibitors opens up therapeutic perspectives for the anaplastic thyroid tumor that does not respond to conventional therapy.