[Expression and significance of MTA1 and RECK gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the expression of MTA1 and RECK gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its correlation with clinicopathological features.

METHOD: In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of MTA1 and RECK mRNA in 60 cases of primary NPC (30 cases with, 30 cases without cervical lymph node metastasis), 10 cases of metastatic lymph node (MLN) and 20 cases of chronic nasopharyngitis tissue (CNT).

RESULT: 1) Positive rates of MTA1 mRNA expression in CNT, NPC and MLN were 30.0% (6/20), 71.7% (43/60) and 80.0% (8/10), respectively. The positive expressions of MTA1 in NPC and MLN were significantly higher than in CNT (P<0.05). The MTA1 mRNA expression in NPC with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in NPC without lymph node metastasis (83.3% vs. 60.0%, P<0.05). 2) Positive rates of RECK mRNA expression in CNT, NPC and MLN were 85.0% (17/20), 26.7% (16/60) and 30.0% (3/10), respectively. The positive expression of RECK in NPC and MLN were significantly lower than in CNT (P< 0.05). The RECK mRNA expression in NPC with lymph node metastasis was significantly lower than in NPC without lymph node metastasis (13.3% vs. 40.0%, P<0.05). 3) Abnormal expression of MTA1 and RECK mRNA in NPC had no correlation with gender, age, T-stage and clinical stage (P>0.05), while they had positive relationship with lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence and the post-treatment 5-year survival periods of NPC (P<0.05). The expression of RECK mRNA was negatively correlated with the expression of MTA1 mRNA in NPC (r = - 0.541, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the aberrant expression of MTA1 and RECK gene may be involved in the invasion and metastasis of NPC. They may be good biomarkers for evaluating the cervical lymph node metastasis, recurrence and prognosis of NPC.