Screening and preliminary analysis of the apoptosis- and proliferation-related genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>To screen and analyze the apoptosis- and proliferation-related genes in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to gene ontology classification, the abnormal expressions of the genes related to cell apoptosis and proliferation were identified in the NPC gene chip data. The cell apoptosis- and proliferation-related genes expressed in each of the 3 stages, as defined by the tree model for the pathogenesis and progression of NPC, were screened, and with literature review, their distribution in the tree model were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nineteen genes related to cell apoptosis were found in NPC, among which 9 were down-regulated (such as DNASE1L3) and located in the chromosome deletion regions, and 10 were up-regulated (such as DEDD) in the chromosome amplification regions. Twenty-one cell proliferation-related genes were identified, including 8 down-regulated genes (such as TUSC2) in the chromosome deletion regions and 13 up-regulated ones (such as EMP1) in the chromosome amplification regions. In the chromosome deletion regions, the down-regulated cell apoptosis-related genes participated mostly in inducing and regulating cell apoptosis, and the up-regulated cell proliferation-related genes in the chromosome amplification regions were mostly associated with the positive regulation of cell proliferation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NPC occurs possibly through two pathways by inhibiting cell apoptosis or by promoting excessive cell proliferation.</p>