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The tumor supressor function of STGC3 and its reduced expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters volume 13, pages 339–352 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

STGC3 is a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene that was found to be associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) via the cDNA cloning and RACE processes. The biological function of the STGC3 protein and its expression level in nasopharyngeal carcinoma remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the STGC3 protein expression level in NPC and to investigate the inhibitory function of STGC3 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene. We assessed the expression of the STGC3 protein in NPC biopsies and normal control specimens via Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. The expression of STGC3 as induced by doxycycline (Dox) via a tetracycline (Tet)-regulated system in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2 was also established, and the effect of STGC3 restoration on the biological behavior of CNE2 was observed. A reduced level of STGC3 expression (0.978 ± 0.213 versus 0.324 ± 0.185, P < 0.05) was detected in NPC versus normal nasopharyngeal tissue by Western blot assay. Immunohistochemical assays for STGC3 detected positive staining in the nuclei and cytoplasm of epithelial cells, and the positive expression rate in NPC, 8 of 21 (38%), was lower than that in normal nasopharynx samples, 16 of 22 (72%). After STGC3 expression was restored, the growth capacity and clone formation potential of CNE2 cells in soft agar were significantly suppressed, and the cell percentage in G0/G1 phase increased, while the percentage of cells entering the S and G2 phases decreased. This indicates that an abnormality in STGC3 expression is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis and that it may play an important role in controlling cell growth and regulating the cell cycle.

Abbreviations

AMV RT:

AMV reverse transcriptase

ANOVA:

one-way analysis of variance

DAB:

diaminobenzidine

Dox:

doxycycline

FCM:

flow cytometry

IOD:

integral optical densities

NPC:

nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

PI:

propidium iodide

PVDF:

polyvinylidene difluoride

RACE:

Rapid Amplification of cDNA End

rtTA:

reverse tetracycline/doxycycline-responsive transcriptional activator

S-P:

streptavidin-peroxidase

Tet:

tetracycline

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, 421001, China

    Xiu-Sheng He, Min Deng, Shuai Yang, Qiao Luo & Bo Hu

  2. Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410078, China

    Zhi-Qiang Xiao, Zhi-min He & Zhu-Chu Chen

Authors
  1. Xiu-Sheng He
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  2. Min Deng
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  3. Shuai Yang
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  4. Zhi-Qiang Xiao
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  5. Qiao Luo
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  6. Zhi-min He
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  7. Bo Hu
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Correspondence to Xiu-Sheng He or Zhu-Chu Chen.

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He, XS., Deng, M., Yang, S. et al. The tumor supressor function of STGC3 and its reduced expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cell Mol Biol Lett 13, 339–352 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-008-0006-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-008-0006-9

Keywords

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

ISSN: 1689-1392

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