title: STAT3 as a therapeutic target for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV): associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an endemic head and neck cancer found in Southeast Asia, is etiologically associated with the infection of an oncogenic virus, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Here, we review literature findings on the potential/putative role of STAT3 signaling in its pathogenesis and discuss anti-STAT3 targeting as a therapeutic and possibly prevention strategy for NPC. Lastly, the potential involvement of STAT3 in other oncovirus-associated (e.g. the human papillomavirus) head and neck cancers have not been investigated and we hope that findings in EBV-associated NPC can prompt future investigations in these cancers, which are of increasing impact in the Western countries.
authors.affiliation: Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Yeung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Sai-Wah
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Musheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Vivian Wai Yan
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Lui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C402641:EBNA-2 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors