Gene expression profiling of nasopharyngeal carcinoma reveals the abnormally regulated Wnt signaling pathway

Hum Pathol. 2007 Jan;38(1):120-33. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2006.06.023. Epub 2006 Sep 25.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a particularly common malignant disease in areas of south China and Southeast Asia. To characterize the gene expression profiling of NPC, we detected the gene expression profiles in 22 NPC and 10 nontumor nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues by complementary DNA microarray. We identified 503 genes that were significantly (P < .001) differentially regulated between NPC and nontumor nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues. The differentially expressed genes are involved in many signaling pathways, such as the Wnt, transforming growth factor-beta, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. The aberrant expression of the Wnt signaling pathway components, such as wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5A, Frizzled homolog 7, casein kinase IIbeta, beta-catenin, CREB-binding protein, and Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 2 was validated on the NPC tissue microarrays. The data suggest that the Wnt signaling pathway may be abnormally regulated in NPC, which provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of NPC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • CREB-Binding Protein / genetics
  • CREB-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Casein Kinase II / genetics
  • Casein Kinase II / metabolism
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Frizzled Receptors / genetics
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt-5a Protein
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • FZD7 protein, human
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • WNT5A protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt-5a Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • CREB-Binding Protein
  • Casein Kinase II