Down-regulation of AMPD3 Is Associated With Poor Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Adenosine monophosphate deaminase 3 (AMPD3) is an isoenzyme involved in the regulation of the energetic metabolism of mammalian cells. Cancer cells have a high demand for their energy supply. This experimental study aimed to illustrate the role of AMPD3 in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials and Methods: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the expression of the AMPD3 gene in human HNSCC tissues to assess the changes in cancerous and noncancerous parts and the correlation with different tumor behavior. The functions of AMPD3 were investigated using wound-healing and migration assays. Results: AMPD3 was significantly down-regulated in cancerous tissues of HNSCC (p=0.001) and this was correlated with more advanced tumor and clinical stages. Patients with high expression had better 5-year survival. AMPD3 knock-down in SCC-4 and SCC-25 cells demonstrated reduction of proliferation but increased migration and invasion. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report evidencing the expression pattern of AMPD3 in HNSCC and demonstrated that high AMPD3 expression might represent a good prognostic biomarker. AMPD3 may have an antiproliferative potential but its down-regulation may not contribute to reducing the migration and invasion of HNSCC cells.