Search

Background: Metastasis remains the major cause of death in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Yippee-like 3 (YPEL3) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its function and mechanism in NPC has not been systematically explored. Methods: We evaluated YPEL3 expression in NPC cell lines and tissues using real-time PCR and western blotting. Then, we established NPC cell lines that stably overexpressed YPEL3 and knocked down YPEL3 expression to explore its function in NPC in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we investigated the potential mechanism of YPEL3 action by identifying the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway downstream genes using western blotting. Results: YPEL3 was downregulated in NPC cell lines and tissue samples. Ectopic expression of YPEL3 inhibited NPC cell migration and invasion in vitro; while silencing of YPEL3 promoted NPC cell migration and invasion. Further study indicated that overexpression of YPEL3 inhibited NPC cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and that silencing it enhanced EMT. Overexpression of YPEL3 suppressed NPC cell lung metastasis in vivo. The mechanism study determined that YPEL3 suppressed the expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway downstream genes and the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Conclusions: YPEL3 suppresses NPC EMT and metastasis by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which would help better understanding the molecular mechanisms of NPC metastasis and provide novel therapeutic targets for NPC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the influence of the progonistic nutritional index (PNI) and weight loss on metastasis and long-term mortality in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 694 newly diagnosed patients with non-disseminated, biopsy-proven NPC. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of PNI and weight loss.Results: Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a low pre-therapy PNI (< 55.0) was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (OS) (P = 0.012), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (P = 0.011) and progression-free survival (P = 0.012). High weight loss (HWL, weight loss during treatment ≥10 %) was an independent predictor of poor OS (P = 0.001) and DMFS (P = 0.014). Advanced stage disease, female gender, chemotherapy, high white blood cell count, high serum globulin concentration and pre-therapy body-mass index were predictors of HWL.Conclusion: Pre-therapy PNI and weight loss have significant predictive value for metastasis and mortality in patients with NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]