miR-181a-Twist1 pathway in the chemoresistance of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Although many researches have been undertaken to disclose the mechanisms of chemoresistance, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of miR-181a-Twist1 pathway in the chemoresistance of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). We found that cisplatin-induced chemoresistance in TSCC cell lines underwent EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) and was accompanied by enhancing metastatic potential (migration and invasion in vitro), miR-181a downregulation and Twist1 upregulation. Functional analyses indicated that miR-181a reversed chemoresistance, inhibited EMT and metastatic potential in TSCC cells. Twist1 was confirmed as a direct miR-181a target gene by luciferase reporter gene assays. Twist1 knockdown by siRNA led to a reversal of the chemoresistance, inhibited EMT and metastatic potential in TSCC cells. Our study demonstrates that miR-181a-Twist1 pathway may play an important role in the development of cisplatin-chemoresistance, with EMT and an increase the metastatic potential of TSCC cells.