Current Status and Future Perspectives about Molecular Biomarkers of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Cancers

Alan Soo-Beng Khoo¹  Shiau-Chuen Cheah²  Pui Yan Siak²  Boon-Peng Hoh²  Chee Onn Leong³ 

[1] Cancer Research Centre, Molecular Pathology Unit, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia;Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia;

关键词: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC);    Epstein–Barr virus;    epigenetics;    biomarkers;    therapeutic resistance;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cancers13143490

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy that shows a remarkable ethnic and geographical distribution. It is one of the major public health problems in some countries, especially Southern China and Southeast Asia, but rare in most Western countries. Multifactorial interactions such as Epstein–Barr virus infection, individual’s genetic susceptibility, as well as environmental and dietary factors may facilitate the pathogenesis of this malignancy. Late presentation and the complex nature of the disease have led it to become a major cause of mortality. Therefore, an effective, sensitive, and specific molecular biomarker is urgently needed for early disease diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of metastasis and recurrence after treatment. In this review, we discuss the recent research status of potential biomarker discovery and the problems that need to be explored further for better NPC management. By studying the aberrant pattern of these candidate biomarkers that promote NPC development and progression, we are able to understand the complexity of this malignancy better, hence positing our stands better towards strategies that may provide a way forward to the discovery of more reliable and specific biomarkers for diagnosis and targeted therapeutic development.

【 授权许可】

Unknown