Reciprocal expression of Slug and Snail in human oral cancer cells

Snail, also called Snai1, is a key regulator of EMT. Snail plays crucial roles in cancer progression, including resistance to anti-tumor drugs and invasion by various cancer cells. Slug, also known as Snai2, is also involved in the aggravation of certain tumors. In this study, we examined the roles of Slug in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. Slug is highly expressed in these cells, and Slug siRNA effectively represses anti-tumor drug resistance and invasive properties. In addition, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β upregulates the expression of Snail and Slug and promotes resistance to anti-tumor drugs in OSCC cells. Surprisingly, Slug siRNA appears to upregulate Snail expression considerably in OSCC cells. Snail siRNA also appears to upregulate Slug expression. Thus, either Slug or Snail siRNA alone partially mitigates malignant phenotypes in the presence of TGF-β, whereas both Slug and Snail siRNAs together dramatically suppress them. Therefore, Slug and Snail in tandem, but not alone, are potential therapeutic targets for nucleic acid medicines to treat oral cancer.