Differential gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common cancer among southern Chinese. T he profile of gene expression in NPC cells is largely unknown. In this stud y, we have examined differential gene expression in non-malignant and malig nant nasopharyngeal epithelial (NPE) cells using a cDNA array hybridization method. A total of 42 genes were identified to be expressed in either non- malignant and malignant NPE cells or both. Thirteen of these genes were ove rexpressed in malignant NPE cells. These includes nuclear factor (NF90), FO S-related antigen 1 (FRA-1), cytoplasmic dynein light chain (HDLC1), replic ation factor C (RFC1), nucleoside diphosphate kinase B, UV excision repair protein (RAD23A), insulin-like growth factor receptor II, transcription ini tiation factor TFIID subunit (TAFII31), growth factor receptor-bound protei n 2 (GRB2), UV excision repair protein (RAD23B), glutathione peroxidase, Y box binding protein 1 and heat shock protein 86. In contrast, expression of nine genes was suppressed in malignant NPE cells. These includes calgranul in A, calgranulin B, neutrophil activating protein (ENA-78), heat shock pro tein 27, integrin beta-1, integrin beta-4, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibito r 1A (p21), interleukin-8 and tyrosine protein kinase receptor (RET). Diffe rential expression of calgranulin A, calgraunlin B, ENA-78, FRA-1 and NF90 in non-malignant and malignant nasophalyngeal epithelial cells was confirme d by RT-PCR analysis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.