RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Slit-Robo signal on apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma line Tb.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After the treatment in Tb cells with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) R5 of against Robo1 receptor extracellular domain, the apoptosis of Tb cell was examined by clone formation assay, flow cytometry, DNA ladder and Hochst-PI. The expression of fas and fasL proteins was observed by Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment by R5 mAb, the proliferative rate decreased and the apoptotic rates increased, and the expression of fas and fasL proteins was up-regulated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Slit-Robo signal could inhibit the apoptosis of tumor cells during genesis of tongue cancer by regulating the expression of fas-fasL proteins.</p>