Figure 5.

TAMs induce the EMT of HNSCC cells via the EGFR signaling pathway. (A) Following co-culture for 24 h with or without the EGFR mono-antibody Cetuximab (10 µg/ml), the morphological changes of Cal27 cells were observed. Magnification, ×200. (B) Using western blot analysis, the protein expression of EMT-associated markers was measured in Cal27 cells co-cultured with TAMs. (C-E) Quantitative analysis of western blots in (C) Cal27, (D) SCC25 and (E) Fadu cells. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. Control; ^#P<0.05 and ^##P<0.01 vs. tumor cells co-cultured with TAMs. TAMs, tumor associated macrophages; EMT, epithelial to mesenchymal transition; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; α-SMA, α-smooth muscle actin.