title: HMGA2 is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and can predict poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-mobility group protein 2 (HMGA2) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins play key roles in cancer progression and metastasis. However, the clinical significance of HMGA2 and its relationship with EMT markers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unclear. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of HMGA2, E-cadherin, and vimentin in NPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using immunohistochemistry, HMGA2, E-cadherin, and vimentin expression levels were evaluated in NPC (n=124) and non-tumoral inflammatory nasopharynx (n=20) tissues. The association of HMGA2 and EMT markers with clinicopathological characteristics and relationships between the protein levels and overall survival were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with non-tumorous tissues, HMGA2 and vimentin levels were markedly increased in NPC tissues, whereas decreased E-cadherin levels were observed (P<0.001). Moreover, HMGA2 expression was positively correlated with vimentin levels (r=0.431, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with E-cadherin amounts (r=-0.413, P<0.001) in NPC tissues. The expression of all three proteins correlated significantly with tumor N stage, TNM stage, and 2-year metastasis. Furthermore, significant correlations were found for T stage, N stage, TNM stage, HMGA2, E-cadherin, and vimentin (all P<0.013) with poor prognosis (univariate analysis). However, multivariate analyses showed that only HMGA2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.683, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.185-6.077, P=0.018) and N stage (HR: 7.892, 95% CI: 2.731-22.807, P<0.001) were independent predictors of poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrated that HMGA2, an independent prognostic factor, may promote NPC progression and metastasis, and is significantly associated with EMT proteins. Therefore, HMGA2 may be considered a potential therapeutic target in NPC.
authors: The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: You-You
authors: YY
authors: Xia
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Yin
authors: The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Tian
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Wen-Jie
authors: WJ
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xue-Song
authors: XS
authors: Jiang
authors: The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Meng
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Research Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jian-Zhong
authors: JZ
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: He
keywords: EMT; NPC; high-mobility group protein 2
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