Let-7a inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting EZH2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Let-7a is frequently downregulated in various types of human cancer includingnasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, the underlying mechanism of let-7a action innasopharyngeal carcinoma remains elusive. In this study, we show that the enhancerof zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a direct target of let-7a in human nasopharyngealcarcinoma cells. The inhibition of EZH2 in vitro by let-7a, EZH2 siRNA, attenuatednasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth, inhibited cell proliferation and inducedcell apoptosis. In addition, for each biological process we identified ontology-associatedtranscripts that significantly correlate with EZH2 expression. Finally, the expressionof EZH2 significantly abrogated let-7a-mediated cell proliferation and apoptosisin the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Taken together, our results suggest thatlet-7a and EZH2 may be potential therapeutic targets for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.