Overexpression of integrin αv in the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma associated with metastasis and progression.
BACKGROUND
Integrins are cell-surface adhesion molecules, regulate normal cellular interactions, and which are consisting of α and β subunits and facilitate signal transduction in a bidirectional manner. Tumor cells have been found to express a wide variety of integrins, overexpression of integrin αv has been detected in a growing number of human malignancy types, However, the reports obout expression of integrin αv in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are very rare.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to detect the expression of integrin αv in NPC, and to evaluate the correlation between integrin αv expression and clinicopathological factors.


METHODS
Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) assay and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect the expression of integrin αv in NPC tissue samples. The correlation between the integrin αv expression and clinicopathological factors was evaluated.


RESULTS
In NPC tissues, the expression levels of integrin αv mRNA was significantly higher than those in the nasopharyngeal inflammation tissues (P< 0.05), and the expression level were significantly correlated with T, N and clinical stage (all P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression rates of integrin αv protein in NPC tissues was 76.92%, significantly higher than that of nasopharyngeal inflammation tissues (6.25%, P< 0.05). We also observed that the protein expression of integrin αv was significantly related to T, N and clinical stage (all P< 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
All these findings suggest that overexpression of integrin αv is closely associated with metastasis and progression of NPC. Therefore, we can speculate that integrin αv could be effective prognostic markers in the future for individualized treatment of patients with NPC.
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Dongtai Hospital of Nantong University, Dongtai, Jiangsu, China.
Shi-Hai
SH
Xuan
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Dongtai Hospital of Nantong University, Dongtai, Jiangsu, China.
Yu-Gui
YG
Zhou
Department of Oncology, Affiliated Dongtai Hospital of Nantong University, Dongtai, Jiangsu, China.
Ji-Qun
JQ
Pan
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Dongtai Hospital of Nantong University, Dongtai, Jiangsu, China.
Wei
W
Zhu
Department of Oncology, Dongtai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dongtai, Jiangsu, China.
Ping
P
Xu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D039564:Integrin alphaV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D039564:Integrin alphaV; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Integrin; metastasis; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; progression