Overexpression of TWIST in SCC‑4 and TCA8113 cells increased β‑catenin signaling luciferase reporter activity, mRNA levels of the β‑catenin signaling target genes, c‑Myc and c‑Jun levels, soluble β‑catenin level, the phosphorylation status of glycogen synthase kinase‑3β (GSK‑3β) at serine 9, matrix metalloproteinase‑2 (MMP‑2) expression and cell invasion.
In four cell lines studied (SCC-4, SCC-9, SCC-15 and SCC-25), Western blot revealed a 30kDa fragment of beta-dystroglycan (beta-DG30) in addition to beta-DG itself. beta-DG degradation was almost abolished using 1,10-phenanthroline and there was a significant decrease in tumor cell invasion.