Abstract:
Objective To investigate the expression and role of PLAC8 protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) tissues and NPC cells cultured in vitro, and their relationship with clinicopathological features.
Methods The expressions of PLAC8 protein in 51 cases of NPC tissues and 32 cases of chronic inflammation of nasal pharynx tissues (tissue microarray, TMA) were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship of PLAC8 expressions with the clinical and pathological features of NPC was analyzed. The expressions of PLAC8 in NPC cells (CNE1, CNE2, C666-1, 5-8F and 6-10B) and immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line NP69 were also detected by Western blot.
Results The expression of PLAC8 in NPC cells was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. The positive expressions of PLAC8 was 72.5% in 51 cases of NPC tissues and 46.9% in 32 cases of chronic inflammation of nasal pharynx tissues(P < 0.01). The positive expression of PLAC8 in NPC cells was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), not T stage, clinical stage or distant metastasis (P > 0.05). Compared with NP69 cells, the expression of PLAC8 was positive in multi-strain nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines.
Conclusion PLAC8 may play an important role in the development of NPC. It may regulate lymph node metastasis of NPC.