Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma

doi:10.7518/hxkq.2026.2025163

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to explore the impact of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Our findings offer a theoretical foundation for advancing the research and development of novel therapeutic agents for OSCC. Methods Bioinformatics analysis was conducted using the cancer genome database to classify OSCC patients based on the presence or absence of extracapsular spread and metastasis in tumor tissues, and to compare the differences in survival rates among different OSCC cell lines. The cell proliferation of different OSCC cell lines treated with different DHA concentrations was detected by CCK-8 cytoto-xicity assay, and the optimal drug concentration was screened. The CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay was used to detect the cell proliferation of different OSCC cell lines (CAL27, HN30, and SCC9) after treatment with different concentrations of DHA, and to screen out the optimal drug concentration. The effects of DHA on the proliferation of OSCC cells were detected by CCK-8 cell proliferation assay and cell cloning assay. The effect of DHA on the migration and invasion ability of tumor cells was detected by scratch test and Transwell test. A nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model was constructed to study the effects of DHA on OSCC tumor tissues and major organ. Results Bioinforma-tics analysis showed that the survival rate of patients with extracapsular spread and metastasis in tumor tissues was lower than that of patients without such phenomena (P<0.05). According to CCK-8 cytotoxicity results, the maximum safe concentrations for different OSCC cell lines CAL27, HN30, and SCC9 were 20, 10, and 5 μmol/L, respectively. Proliferation and cloning experiments of CCK-8 cells showed that DHA could inhibit the proliferation of three squamous cell lines (P<0.05). Scratch test and Transwell test showed that the migration and invasion levels of CAL27, HN30, and SCC9 cells were significantly decreased under DHA treatment (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that the growth rate of tumor tissue significantly decreased after DHA treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion DHA exhibits significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of various OSCC cells and growth of tumor tissues.

Key words: oral squamous cell carcinoma, dihydroartemisinin, cell proliferation, migration, invasion

CLC Number:

R739.8

Shan Tianyu, Liu Jiajia, Liu Tangjun, Sun Dandan, Wang Xinwei, Liu Yunxia. Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma[J]. West China Journal of Stomatology, 2026, 44(2): 224-231.

Figures/Tables 6

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