PMID- 36675308 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20230124 LR - 20230202 IS - 1422-0067 (Electronic) IS - 1422-0067 (Linking) VI - 24 IP - 2 DP - 2023 Jan 16 TI - The RNA-Binding Protein SMN as a Novel Player in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. LID - 10.3390/ijms24021794 [doi] LID - 1794 AB - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arises from the mucosal epithelium in the oral cavity, pharynx, sino-nasal region, and larynx. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) represents one-third of all head and neck cancers. Dysregulated RNA-related pathways define an important molecular signature in this aggressive carcinoma. The Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein regulates fundamental aspects of the RNA metabolism but, curiously, its role in cancer is virtually unknown. For the first time, here, we focus on the SMN in the cancer context. We conducted a pilot study in a total of 20 patients with LSCC where the SMN was found overexpressed at both the protein and transcript levels. By a cellular model of human laryngeal carcinoma, we demonstrated that the SMN impacts cancer-relevant behaviors and perturbs key players of cell migration, invasion, and adhesion. Furthermore, in LSCC we showed a physical interaction between the SMN and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), whose overexpression is an important feature in these tumors. This study proposes the SMN protein as a novel therapeutic target in LSSC and likely in the whole spectrum of HNSCC. Overall, we provide the first analysis of the SMN in human cancer. FAU - Gabanella, Francesca AU - Gabanella F AD - CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Colizza, Andrea AU - Colizza A AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-0639-806X AD - Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Mottola, Maria Chiara AU - Mottola MC AD - CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Francati, Silvia AU - Francati S AD - Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Blacona, Giovanna AU - Blacona G AD - Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Petrella, Carla AU - Petrella C AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-0651-1816 AD - CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Barbato, Christian AU - Barbato C AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-1737-9064 AD - CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Greco, Antonio AU - Greco A AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-4824-9871 AD - Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Ralli, Massimo AU - Ralli M AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-8776-0421 AD - Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Fiore, Marco AU - Fiore M AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-6806-9715 AD - CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Corbi, Nicoletta AU - Corbi N AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-4505-1632 AD - CNR-Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Ferraguti, Giampiero AU - Ferraguti G AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-6129-4071 AD - Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Corsi, Alessandro AU - Corsi A AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-6896-4509 AD - Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Minni, Antonio AU - Minni A AD - Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - de Vincentiis, Marco AU - de Vincentiis M AD - Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Passananti, Claudio AU - Passananti C AD - CNR-Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy. FAU - Di Certo, Maria Grazia AU - Di Certo MG AD - CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20230116 PL - Switzerland TA - Int J Mol Sci JT - International journal of molecular sciences JID - 101092791 RN - 63231-63-0 (RNA) RN - 0 (RNA-Binding Proteins) SB - IM MH - Humans MH - Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/genetics MH - *Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology MH - Pilot Projects MH - *Head and Neck Neoplasms/genetics MH - *Laryngeal Neoplasms/metabolism MH - RNA MH - RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/metabolism MH - Cell Line, Tumor MH - Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic MH - Cell Proliferation/genetics PMC - PMC9864193 OTO - NOTNLM OT - EGFR OT - RNA-binding proteins OT - SMN OT - head and neck cancers OT - squamous cell carcinoma COIS- The authors declare no conflict of interest. EDAT- 2023/01/22 06:00 MHDA- 2023/01/25 06:00 PMCR- 2023/01/16 CRDT- 2023/01/21 01:29 PHST- 2022/12/16 00:00 [received] PHST- 2023/01/11 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2023/01/13 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2023/01/21 01:29 [entrez] PHST- 2023/01/22 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2023/01/25 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2023/01/16 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - ijms24021794 [pii] AID - ijms-24-01794 [pii] AID - 10.3390/ijms24021794 [doi] PST - epublish SO - Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 16;24(2):1794. doi: 10.3390/ijms24021794.