Differential expression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA and several tumor-related genes in various types of nasopharyngeal epithelial lesions and nasopharyngeal carcinoma using tissue microarray analysis.
Studies have revealed that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, genetic aberration, and environmental factors are of importance in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), although the definite mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of our study is to investigate using tissue microarray analysis whether differential expression of EBV-encoded small RNA-1 (EBER-1) and several tumor-related genes were associated with NPC carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed on tissue microarrays containing 148 NPCs and 164 noncancerous nasopharyngeal epithelia (NPE) with different morphologic features. We found that overexpressions of EBER-1 hybridization signals, p53, p21ras, and bcl-2 proteins and loss expressions of p16 and p27 proteins were significantly increased in NPC tissues compared with normal NPE and hyperplastic NPE (P </= .001). The overexpressions of EBER-1 and p53 (P < .001) and the loss expressions of P16 (P < .001) and P27 (P = .005) were also significantly higher and more frequently observed in NPC than in dysplastic NPE. The positive expression of EBER-1 hybridization signals in NPC had significant associations with overexpressions of p53 (P < .001), p21ras (P = .041), and bcl-2 proteins (P < .001) and loss expression of p16 protein (P = .001). Further analysis confirmed that the abnormal expression of p53, p16, and p27 proteins occurred in the earliest stage of nasopharyngeal epithelial carcinogenesis. In the final logistic regression analysis model, the positive hybridization signals of EBER-1 and the abnormal expression of p53, p16, and p27 proteins were independent contributions for nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis, and EBER-1 was the most significant, independent predictor of nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis (hazard ratio = 13.412, 95% confidence interval 6.179-29.111, P < .001). In conclusion, EBV infection, together with overexpressions of p53, and loss expressions of p16 and p27 proteins are involved in the multistep process of human nasopharyngeal epithelial carcinogenesis.
Fan
Song-Qing
SQ
Cancer Research Institute, Xiang-Ya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Pathology, The Second Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Ma
Jian
J
Zhou
Jie
J
Xiong
Wei
W
Xiao
Bing-Yi
BY
Zhang
Wen-Ling
WL
Tan
Chen
C
Li
Xiao-Ling
XL
Shen
Shou-Rong
SR
Zhou
Ming
M
Zhang
Qiu-Hong
QH
Ou
Yang-Jue
YJ
Zhuo
Hou-De
HD
Fan
Songquing
S
Zhou
Yan-Hong
YH
Li
Gui-Yuan
GY
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000379:methods*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C099537:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral