title: The interplay of host genetic factors and Epstein-Barr virus in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: The interplay between host cell genetics and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection contributes to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Understanding the host genetic and epigenetic alterations and the influence of EBV on cell signaling and host gene regulation will aid in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of NPC and provide useful biomarkers and targets for diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we provide an update of the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes associated with NPC, as well as genes associated with NPC risk including those involved in carcinogen detoxification and DNA repair. We also describe the importance of host genetics that govern the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex and immune responses, and we describe the impact of EBV infection on host cell signaling changes and epigenetic regulation of gene expression. High-power genomic sequencing approaches are needed to elucidate the genetic basis for inherited susceptibility to NPC and to identify the genes and pathways driving its molecular pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology and Center for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P. R. China. mlilung@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Maria Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lung
authors.forename: Arthur Kwok Leung
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Josephine Mun Yee
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Hong Lok
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lung
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D009857:Oncogenes; D015398:Signal Transduction