title: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma--review of the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis.
abstract: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a head and neck cancer rare throughout most of the world but common in certain geographic areas, such as southern Asia. While environmental factors and genetic susceptibility play important roles in NPC pathogenesis, the Epstein-Barr virus in particular has been implicated in the molecular abnormalities leading to NPC. There is upregulation of cellular proliferation pathways such as the Akt pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and the Wnt pathway. Cell adhesion is compromised due to abnormal E-cadherin and beta-catenin function. Aberrations in cell cycle are due to dysregulation of factors such as p16, cyclin D1, and cyclin E. Anti-apoptotic mechanisms are also upregulated. There are multiple abnormalities unique to NPC that are potential targets for novel treatments.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94115, USA.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Zhidong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jablons
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C475820:CCNE1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D019927:Cyclin E; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin