Open AccessTumor suppressor function of BCSC‐1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Zhou Y. Q.,
Chen S. L.,
Ju J. Y.,
Shen L.,
Liu Y.,
Zhen S.,
Lv N.,
He Z. G.,
Zhu L. P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01261.x
Subject(s) - nasopharyngeal carcinoma , carcinogenesis , biology , cancer research , ectopic expression , tumor suppressor gene , suppressor , cell culture , immunology , medicine , cancer , genetics , radiation therapy
BCSC‐1 is dramatically upregulated in CNE‐2L2 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells with reduced malignancy (AS cells) and is proposed to be a candidate tumor suppressor gene. We therefore examined the effect of BCSC‐1 expression on malignant behaviors of CNE‐2L2 cells. Growth in vitro and tumorigenesis in nude mice of wild‐type CNE‐2L2 cells (W cells) were inhibited by ectopic BCSC‐1 , and those of AS cells were promoted by BCSC‐1 suppression. The tumor suppressor function of BCSC‐1 was further confirmed by a study showing that intratumor BCSC‐1 injection caused growth suppression of the tumor from W cells inoculated in nude mice. Immunohistochemistry exhibited marked reduction of BCSC‐1 expression in 11 of 39 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma specimens. Because BCSC‐1 expression was as rich as that in normal cells in the rest of the carcinoma specimens and was poor in CNE‐2L2 cells, HNE‐1 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells with rich BCSC‐1 expression were used as a control in the study. No effect of BCSC‐1 transfection on growth of the cells was observed. The data suggest that BCSC‐1 suppression might play roles in tumorigenesis of some nasopharyngeal carcinomas and that BCSC‐1 might be a potential gene therapy target in nasopharyngeal carcinomas with poor BCSC‐1 expression. Enhanced aggregation of cells together with increased E‐cadherin and α ‐catenin expression and reduced Wnt signaling might be involved in the mechanisms of tumor suppressor function of BCSC‐1 . ( Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1817–1822)