Increased cell size and cadherin 11 expression following metabolic adaptation in SCC-25 oral squamous carcinoma cells

Cadherin 11 (CDH11) is a transmembrane cell adhesion protein with roles in oral biology and development. Increased expression of CDH11 has been correlated with aggressive disease in multiple cancer types including those of the head and neck region. Specifically, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive malignancy prone to invasion and metastasis and associated with poor outcomes and therapeutic resistance. Cellular qualities of OSCC vary during tumor growth in response to changes in blood perfusion and nutrient availability. The resulting metabolic stress promotes reprogramming responses that lead to aggressive cancer cell qualities. Alterations to CDH11 dynamics in response to nutrient limitations in the context of oral cancer have not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes to CDH11 expression and localization following metabolic adaptation of the SCC-25 OSCC cell line when exposed to reduced glucose availability. Adapted cells exhibited high viability with an increase in average cell size. CDH11 expression in this population increased at both the transcript and protein levels. Additionally, CDH11 demonstrated greater localization to the plasma membrane at cell-cell junctions following adaptation. The increased expression and relocalization under these conditions suggests a potential role for CDH11 in response to nutrient stress, providing rationale for more comprehensive functional and molecular investigation.