EFFECT OF DEXAMETHASONE ON INVASION OF HUMAN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA-CELLS INTO COLLAGEN GEL

The effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on the ability to invade type I coll agen gel was investigated in two cell lines of oral squamous cell carc inoma (SCC). At concentrations higher than 10(-8) M, Dex significantly suppressed the invasive growth of SCC cells into the gel. The same co ncentrations of Dex led to a decrease in urokinase type plasminogen ac tivator (u-PA) synthesis and an increase in plasminogen activator inhi bitor type 1 (PAI-1) synthesis by SCC cells, These findings suggest th at Dex inhibits the invasiveness of SCC cells by decreasing their prot eolytic activity.