Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Molecular Landscape

Author:

Bruce Jeff P.1,Yip Kenneth1,Bratman Scott V.1,Ito Emma1,Liu Fei-Fei1

Affiliation:

1. Jeff P. Bruce, Kenneth Yip, Scott V. Bratman, Emma Ito, and Fei-Fei Liu, University Health Network; and Scott V. Bratman, Emma Ito, and Fei-Fei Liu, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a unique epithelial malignancy arising from the superior aspect of the pharyngeal mucosal space, associated with latent Epstein-Barr virus infection in most cases. The capacity to characterize cancer genomes in unprecedented detail is now providing insights into the genesis and molecular underpinnings of this disease. Herein, we provide an overview of the molecular aberrations that likely drive nasopharyngeal tumor development and progression. The contributions of major Epstein-Barr virus–encoded factors, including proteins, small RNAs, and microRNAs, along with their interactions with pathways regulating cell proliferation and survival are highlighted. We review recent analyses that clearly define the role of genetic and epigenetic variations affecting the human genome in NPC. These findings point to the impact of DNA methylation and histone modifications on gene expression programs that promote this malignancy. The molecular interactions that allow NPC cells to evade immune recognition and elimination, which is crucial for the survival of cells expressing potentially immunogenic viral proteins, are also described. Finally, the potential utility of detecting host and viral factors for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC is discussed. Altogether, the studies summarized herein have greatly expanded our knowledge of the molecular biology of NPC, yet much remains to be uncovered. Emerging techniques for using and analyzing well-annotated biospecimens from patients with NPC will ultimately lead to a greater level of understanding, and enable improvements in precision therapies and clinical outcomes.

Publisher

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Subject

Cancer Research,Oncology

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