Open AccessBEX 3 contributes to cisplatin chemoresistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Gao Wei,
Li John ZengHong,
Chen SiQi,
Chu ChiaoYun,
Chan Jimmy YuWai,
Wong ThianSze
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.982
Subject(s) - cisplatin , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , gene knockdown , cancer research , biology , folate receptor , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer cell , cell culture , medicine , chemotherapy , radiation therapy , genetics
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC ) can develop cisplatin‐resistant phenotype. Research has revealed that enriched in cancer stem cell population is involved in developing cisplatin‐resistant phenotype. CD 271 is a candidate stem cell maker in head and neck cancers. The CD receptor does not possess any enzymatic property. Signal transduction function of CD 271 is mediated by the cellular receptor‐associated protein. Our data showed that Brain‐expressed X‐linked 3 ( BEX 3), a CD 271 receptor‐associated protein, was overexpressed in NPC . BEX 3 overexpression was a unique event in cancer developed in the head and neck regions, especially NPC . BEX 3 expression was inducible by cisplatin in NPC . In cisplatin‐resistant NPC xenograft, treatment with nontoxic level of cisplatin led to a remarkable increase in BEX 3 level. High BEX 3 expression was accompanied with high octamer‐binding transcription factor 4 ( OCT 4) expression in cisplatin‐resistant NPC . To confirm the inducing role of BEX 3 on OCT 4 expression, we knockdown BEX 3 using si RNA and compared the expression of OCT 4 with mock transfectants. Suppressing BEX 3 transcripts led to a significant reduction in OCT 4. In addition, targeting BEX 3 using sh RNA could increase the sensitivity of NPC cells to cisplatin. In summary, our results indicated a unique functional role of BEX 3 in mediating the sensitivity of NPC cells to cisplatin. Targeting or blocking BEX 3 activity might be useful in reversing the cisplatin‐resistant phenotype in NPC .