Association Between LMP-1,LMP-2,and miR-155 Expression as Potential Biomarker in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: A Case/Control Study in Vietnam

Abstract

Background:

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and microRNA-155 (miR-155) are considered etiological factors that contribute to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The regulation of miR-155 expression induced by EBV infection has been reported to be important in NPC tumorigenesis.

Aims:

This study was designed to explore the relationships among the expression levels of miR-155, LMP-1 (latent membrane protein-1), and LMP-2 (latent membrane protein-2) in tumor and nontumor specimens of Vietnamese NPC patients. The study was also designed to investigate the association between miR-155 expression and LMP-1 and LMP-2 expression in Vietnamese NPC patients.

Materials and Methods:

Ninety-three NPC biopsy samples and 100 noncancerous swab specimens were collected from patients and analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

LMP-1, LMP2, and miR-155 were significantly upregulated in 76.34%, 67.74%, and 75.27% of NPC samples, respectively, with decreased expression observed in the control group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the statistical analysis showed that there was a close association between LMP-1 and LMP-2 expression and miR-155 expression in the NPC samples.

Conclusion:

miR-155 expression was upregulated and significantly associated with the expression of LMP-1 and LMP-2, in Vietnamese NPC cases.