Abstract 2215: Periostin plays a crucial role in the recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Periostin (POSTN) is associated with many human tumors, such as colon, lung, breast, ovarian, prostate, and head and neck cancers. In this study, we focused on POSTN in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC) because little is known about its possible role in carcinogenesis. This study aims to investigate the role of POSTN in the recurrence and prognosis of tongue cancer. A total of 97 patients diagnosed with tongue cancer in Gyeongsang National University Hospital between Jan 2012 and Dec 2017 were included. A retrospective review of medical records was performed, and the immunohistochemical staining with the POSTN antibody was done. Statistical analysis between cancer progression and POSTN expression was done. Referring to the clinical results that POSTN was related to the recurrence of tongue cancer, the effects of POSTN on HNSCC cell lines were investigated. Overexpression and depletion of POSTN were established in the HNSCC cell line. The results of POSTN in the HNSCC cell line were evaluated by colony-forming, migration, invasion, wound healing, and flow cytometry in vitro and in vivo. We also investigated the effects of POSTN overexpression and depletion on invasion, migration, and cell apoptosis. High expression of POSTN in HNSCC was related to cancer recurrence. In multivariate analyses, High expression of POSTN was a statistically significant risk factor for tongue cancer recurrence (HR, 16.8; p=0.040). Also, POSTN inhibits colony-forming, migration, invasion, and wound healing. This study showed that POSTN in HNSCC is a positive correlation with recurrence. And we also confirmed that POSTN promoted tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. POSTN plays an essential role in the growth and metastasis of tongue cancer and may be positioned as a therapeutic target for head and neck cancer. Citation Format: Jung Je Park, Ji Hyun Seo, Seongjun Won, Somi Ryu, Seung-Kuk Baek, Yoon Woo Koh. Periostin plays a crucial role in the recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2215.