Influence of TGF-β1 on tumor transition in oral cancer cell and BMSC co-cultures

TGF-β1 signaling modulates epithelial mesenchymal transitions (EMT) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSC) are able to exert a regulating influence on the expression of markers of EMT in HNSCC cells. It was thus the aim of this study to test the hypothesis that TGF-β1 modulates the interactions of tumor transition between BMSCs and HNSCC, affecting the expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, Twist, MMP14 and beta-catenin. Furthermore, we analyzed alterations in the AKT-signaling of tumor and stroma cells.