Genetic and epigenetic changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy with remarkable racial and geographic distribution. The development of this EBV-associated cancer likely involves cumulative genetic and epigenetic changes in a background of predisposed genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide studies have unravelled multiple chromosomal abnormalities with involvement of specific oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Alterations of genes such as Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A), p16/INK4A, p14/ARF suggest that multiple cellular pathways were dysregulated in the NPC cells. Studies on the precancerous lesions revealed early genetic changes and a critical role of EBV latent infection in the development of this cancer. Based on the existing findings, a pathogenetic model for NPC is proposed.
Lo
Kwok-Wai
KW
Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology and Institute of Molecular Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, PR, China. kwlo@cuhk.edu.hk
Huang
Dolly P
DP
D017209:Apoptosis; D000075982:Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D019175:DNA Methylation; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
C403514:CADM1 protein, human; D000075982:Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins