Abstract: PURPOSE: Explore the involvement of Maspin methylation in the proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: HIOEC-B(a)P cell line was divided into 4 groups: negative control, ADC+TSA with low (0.1 μmol/L+0.05 μmol/L), middle (1 μmol/L+0.5 μmol/L) and high (10 μmol/L+5 μmol/L) dose. Oral epithelial cells were taken as control. Methylation degree was detected by real-time PCR. The proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT and DAPI staining. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software package. RESULTS: Maspin methylation was enhanced in tumor cells when compared with control group (P<0.01). Maspin methylation was decreased in middle and high dose group when compared with negative group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The inhibition ratio of cell multiplication was enhanced when compared with negative group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The apoptosis content was enhanced after incubation with ADC+TSA with a dose dependent manner (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Methylation of Maspin gene may be involved in the proliferation of oral cancer cells.

Key words: Maspin gene, Methylation, ADC, TSA