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Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) encoded microRNA BART8‐3p drives radioresistance‐associated metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Zhou Xiaohan,
Lin Yanling,
Chen Yuting,
Wang Lingzhi,
Peng Xiaohong,
Liao Jinrong,
Zeng Hanyi,
Luo Wenxiao,
Wu Dehua,
Cai Longmei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.30320
Subject(s) - radioresistance , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , cancer research , metastasis , microrna , biology , radiation therapy , apoptosis , medicine , immunology , cancer , gene , genetics
Abstract Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), however, 20% of patients with NPC exhibit unusual radioresistance. Patients with radioresistance are at risk of recurrence, so it is imperative to explore the mechanism of resistance to radiotherapy. In the past, studies on the mechanism of radioresistance have been restricted to DNA damage and related cell cycle remodeling or apoptosis. So far, no studies have explored the relationship between radioresistance and metastasis. Through the analysis of clinical samples, we observed that the metastasis rate of recurrent NPC was much higher than that of primary patients. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that NPC cells with acquired radioresistance exhibited a stronger ability for invasion and metastasis. Mechanistically, we found that the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded miRNA BART8‐3p was increased in patients with NPC, and its expression was positively correlated with adverse prognostic factors, such as radioresistance. Besides this, miR‐BART8‐3p promoted the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis of radioresistant NPC cells by targeting and inhibiting their PAG1 host gene. These findings suggested a novel role for EBV‐miR‐BART8‐3p in promoting NPC radioresistance‐associated metastasis and highlighted its potential value as a prognostic indicator or therapeutic target.