Evaluation of Aflibercept effect on VEGF gene expression in CAFs and CAFs/epithelial cells of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Introduction: Oral cancer is the tenth most common cancer in Iran. The main reason of poor prognosis is early, distant metastasis. Recent investigations show tumor stroma and especially Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) have a considerable role in angiogenesis and consequently tumor progression. In the present study we investigated and compared the anti-angiogenic impact of Aflibercept (Anti-cancer drug) in both CAFs and CAFs/epithelial cells co-culture.Materials and Methods: After obtaining tissue samples from an oral cancer patient, CAFs and CAFs/epithelial cells were isolated using enzymatic digestion and explant culture. VEGF gene expression were investigated using Real-Time PCR before and after treatment by Aflibercept.Results: VEGF gene expression was significantly increased in CAFs/epithelial cells co-culture comparing with CAFs. After treatment by Aflibercept, although VEGF gene expression was decreased, it was not significant.Conclusion: Although Aflibercept may confine oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through decreasing VEGF gene expression, it seems other molecular factors interfere this process.

Keywords:

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma , Aflibercept , Carcinoma Associated Fibroblast