Ricerc@Sapienza

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and angiogenesis are crucial events for development of aggressive and often fatal Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas (OSCCs). Both promote cancer progression and metastasis development, but while the former induces the loss of E-cadherin expression and, hence cadherin switching; the latter produces haematic blood vessel neo-formation and contribute to OSCC cell growth, tumor mass development, and dissemination. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has an important role, not only in angiogenic mechanisms, but also in favoring cancer invasion.

Abstract: Changes in cell–matrix and cell-to-cell adhesion patterns are dramatically fostered by
the microgravity exposure of living cells. The modification of adhesion properties could promote
the emergence of a migrating and invasive phenotype. We previously demonstrated that short
exposure to the simulated microgravity of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) promotes an early epithelial–
mesenchymal transition (EMT). Herein, we developed this investigation to verify if the cells maintain

In aggressive tumors, alkylglyceronephosphate synthase (AGPS) controls cellular ether phospholipid utilization and metabolism to promote cancer cell proliferation and motility. SAR studies on the first-in-class AGPS inhibitor 1, discovered by our group, led to the 2,6-difluoro analog 2i which showed higher binding affinity than 1in vitro. In 231MFP cancer cells, 2i reduced ether lipids levels and cell migration rate.