C6-ceramide inhibits the motility of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells

Abstract

Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive type of thyroid cancer, and its metastasis requires cell motility. Ceramide is involved in a variety of biological processes, including inflammation, cell signaling, cell motility, and induction of apoptosis, however has not previously been reported to inhibit the motility of ATC cells. We evaluated the effect of short chain C6-ceramide on motility of ATC cells. Methods Cell motility of 8305C thyroid carcinoma cell line treated with C6-ceramide was assessed using a transwell migration assay and a pseudopodia formation assay. Results Treatment with 10 μM C6-ceramide resulted in significantly fewer migratory cells than control treatment in a transwell migration assay (P < 0.002). In condition medium, 82.6% of C6-ceramide–treated cells formed lamellipodia. Importantly, treatment with 10 μM C6-ceramide drastically decreased the number of cells forming lamellipodia by 17.6% (P < 0.01). Conclusion Our results suggest that treatment with a low concentration of ceramide may prevent metastasis and recurrence of ATC by inhibiting cell motility. Further studies are necessary to investigate the mechanism of inhibition of cell motility by ceramide. Ceramide shows promise as a therapeutic treatment for ATC.