Protein phosphatase-2A association with microtubules and its role in restricting the invasiveness of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

The role of protein phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) in regulating the motility and adhesion of human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) was investigated. Immunofluorescent staining of these HNSCC cells showed PP-2A can co-localize with microtubules. That the PP-2A influences motility was shown by the increase in HNSCC cell migration through laminin and vitronectin when PP-2A was selectively inhibited with low dose okadaic acid, and by the reduction in invasion through these same matrix components by elevators of PP-2A activity. Motility of HNSCC cells through collagen I or fibronectin was not modulated by PP-2A. The reduction in HNSCC migration through vitronectin or laminin that resulted from treatment with PP-2A elevators was associated with an increase in cellular adhesiveness to these same ECM components. These studies show the association of PP-2A with the cellular cytoskeleton and its role in restricting the invasiveness of tumor cells through select extracellular matrix components.