Modulation of hsa-miR-155 by a Novel Combretastatin Like Small Molecule (IIIJ) in Hep 2 Head and Neck Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

Background: has-miR-155 is an established oncomiR in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), contributing to proliferation, survival, and therapy resistance. IIIJ (T1) is a novel combretastatin-like molecule with predicted microtubule-disrupting and microRNA-modulating activity. This study evaluated the effect of IIIJ (T1) on miR-155 expression and cellular outcomes in HEp-2 cancer cells. Methods: Hep-2 cells were treated with IIIJ (T1), and changes in cell viability were measured using MTT assays. miR-155 expression was quantified via qRT-PCR. In-silico analyses of TCGA-HNSC datasets (UALCAN) were used to contextualize experimental results with patient-level expression patterns and potential prognostic relevance. Results: Treatment with IIIJ (T1) significantly reduced Hep-2 cell viability. qRT-PCR analysis revealed marked downregulation of miR-155 following treatment, consistent with reduced proliferation. TCGA-HNSC data confirmed overexpression of miR-155 in tumor tissues compared with normal mucosa. While survival analyses did not show statistically significant differences based on miR-155 levels, a trend toward poorer outcomes in high-expression groups was observed. Conclusion: IIIJ (T1) effectively suppresses oncogenic miR-155 and inhibits Hep-2 cell proliferation, supporting its potential as a microtubule-targeting and microRNA-modulating therapeutic candidate in head and neck carcinoma. These findings highlight miR-155 as a mechanistic target for future therapeutic and prognostic investigations.