OBJECTIVETo evaluate the molecular mechanism of proliferation and invasion inhibition in oral squamous cell carcinoma transfected with recombinant adenovirus-p53 (Ad-p53).

METHODSTca8113 cell lines were transfected with Ad-p53. Then the effect of p53 overexpression on cancer cells proliferation and invasion was observed. The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), serine/threonine kinase (AKT) signaling pathway related proteins, cell cycle and apoptosis related proteins Cyclin D1, P21 and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blotting analysis.

RESULTSAfter transfected with Ad-p53, the proliferation and invasion of Tca8113 cells were significantly inhibited (P < 0.01) and the apoptosis of Tca8113 cells significantly increased (P < 0.001). The results of Western blotting demonstrated that the protein expression of P53 and P21 significantly increased, Cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 protein expression and phosphorylation of AKT protein significantly decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe AKT signaling pathway may be a key molecular mechanism for proliferation and invasion inhibition of oral squamous cell carcinoma caused by p53. The protein of Cyclin D1, P21 and Bcl-2 may be the downstream targets of AKT signaling pathway. This may provide a new evidence for AKT pathway and downstream targets as a promising therapeutic target for malignant tumors.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Serine ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection