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miR-31 is consistently inactivated in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and contributes to its tumorigenesis

C. C. Cheung,G. T. Chung,S. W. Lun,K. To,K. Choy,K. Lau,Sharie Pui-Kei Siu,X. Guan,R. Ngan,T. T. Yip,P. Busson,S. Tsao,K. Lo

Published 2014 in Molecular Cancer

ABSTRACT

BackgroundAs a distinctive type of head and neck cancers, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is genesis from the clonal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected nasopharyngeal epithelial cells accumulated with multiple genetic lesions. Among the recurrent genetic alterations defined, loss of 9p21.3 is the most frequent early event in the tumorigenesis of EBV-associated NPC. In addition to the reported CDKN2A/p16, herein, we elucidated the role of a miRNA, miR-31 within this 9p21.3 region as NPC-associated tumor suppressor.MethodsThe expression and promoter methylation of miR-31 were assessed in a panel of NPC tumor lines and primary tumors. Its in vitro and in vivo tumor suppression function was investigated through the ectopic expression of miR-31 in NPC cells. We also determined the miR-31 targeted genes and its involvement in the growth in NPC.ResultsDownregulation of miR-31 expression was detected in almost all NPC cell line, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and primary tumors. Both homozygous deletion and promoter hypermethylation were shown to be major mechanisms for miR-31 silencing in this cancer. Strikingly, loss of miR-31 was also obviously observed in the dysplastic lesions of nasopharynx. Restoration of miR-31 in C666-1 cells inhibited the cell proliferation, colony-forming and migratory capacities. Dramatic reduction of in v itro anchorage-independent growth and in vivo tumorigenic potential were demonstrated in the stable clones expressing miR-31. Furthermore, we proved that miR-31 suppressed the NPC cell growth via targeting FIH1 and MCM2.ConclusionsThe findings provide strong evidence to support miR-31 as a new NPC-associated tumor suppressor on 9p21.3 region. The inactivation of miR-31 may contribute to the early development of NPC.

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