S100A6 could not promote the differentiation of Calu-6 lung cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated that S100 calcium binding protein A6 (S100A6) impairs tumorigenesis by Calu-6 lung cancer cells, as well as inhibit their growth. However, the role that S100A6 plays in tumor cell differentiation has not been previously explored. This study aimed to confirm the effect of S100A6 on the direction of differentiation in the human lung cancer cell linem Calu-6m based on our previous published research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A S100A6-overexpressing lentiviral vector was successfully constructed in our previous study. Nude mouse tumorigenicity was then applied successfully, and 15 mice were divided into three groups (Calu-6, Calu-6/neo, Calu-6/S100A6). After 5 weeks, we detected lung cancer markers with immunohistochemistry in mice tumor tissues, including the adenocarcinoma markers, TTF-1 and NapsinA, the squamous cell carcinoma markers, P40, CK5/6 and P63, and the small cell lung cancer markers CD56, Syn, CgA, TTF-1, CK, and Ki-67. Differences among the three groups were statistically compared.

RESULTS: All the above-mentioned markers were positive in the tumor tissues of all three groups, and there were no significant differences.

CONCLUSION: S100A6 cannot promote differentiation of the undifferentiated human lung cancer cell line, Calu-6, into adenocarcinoma, squamous, or small cell carcinoma cell lines.