PAQR3 plays a suppressive role in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common type of head and neck malignancy worldwide. The molecular mechanism of LSCC remains not well understood. PAQR3 (progestin and AdipoQ receptors) is a member of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. Many studies have showed that PAQR3 acts as a new tumor suppressor. However, its expression and functions in LSCC are still unknown. In our study, the expression of PAQR3 was downregulated in human LSCC tissues compared to that in adjacent tissues. Moreover, overexpression of PAQR3 suppressed LSCC cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, PAQR3 inhibited cell proliferation and invasion by regulating ERK phosphorylation. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that PAQR3 acted a tumor suppressive role in LSCC, providing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic option for LSCC in the future.