Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor stimulates mitogenesis and migration of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line

OBJECTIVE., We sought to assess the effect of extracellular matrix and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) on the growth and motility of cultured squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) cells. METHODS: Cultured cells were incubated in the presence of HGF/SF. The effect of HFG/SF on cell growth, motility, and phosphorylation of the signaling proteins FAK and Erk was determined. RESULTS. HGF/SF is both mitogenic and motogenic to the human SCCHN cell line FaDu. Incubation of FaDu cells in the presence of HGF/SF led to a rapid increase in phosphorylation of both FAK and the growth-promoting kinase Erk. HGF/SF-induced phosphorylation of FAK and Erk was observed in both detached and attached SCCHN cells. However, phosphorylation was much greater in attached cells. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE. The mitogenic and motogenic activities of HGF/SF may contribute to the pathogenesis of SCCHN in vivo.