STAT3 activation contributes directly to Epstein-Barr virus-mediated invasiveness of nasopharyngeal cancer cells in vitro.

Full Abstract

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated head and neck cancer prevalent in Asia. Although with reasons not fully understood, the intrinsic invasiveness of NPC is believed to be EBV-linked. Recently, EBV was found to induce STAT3 activation. Constitutive STAT3 activation correlated with advanced clinical staging in NPC. We hypothesized that STAT3 activation by EBV directly contributes to the intrinsic invasiveness of NPC cells. Phospho-STAT3-Tyr705 was detected in high percentage of NPC tumors (7/10 cases). Using a paired NPC cell line model, HONE-1 and the EBV-infected counterpart, HONE-1-EBV, we found that HONE-1-EBV expressed a higher level of phospho-STAT3-Tyr705 and was approximately 11-fold more invasive than HONE-1. In HONE-1-EBV, STAT3 siRNA targeting inhibited both spontaneous and serum-induced invasion, as well as cell growth. Conversely, activation of STAT3 (by expressing an activated STAT3 mutant, namely STAT3C) in the parental HONE-1, mimicking EBV-induced STAT3 activation, significantly enhanced its invasiveness and proliferation, which was accompanied by increased expression of markers of mesenchymal status, proliferation and anti-apoptosis. Our results demonstrated that EBV-induced STAT3 activation is responsible for NPC cell proliferation and invasion. This was further confirmed by a small molecule inhibitor of JAK/STAT3, JSI-124. JSI-124 inhibited STAT3 activation in HONE-1-EBV, with subsequent growth inhibition, induction of PARP cleavage, abrogation of anchorage-independent growth and invasion. We found that EBV-independent activation of STAT3 by a growth factor, EGF, also contributed to NPC invasion. In conclusion, EBV-induced STAT3 activation directly contributes to the intrinsic invasiveness of NPC cells and STAT3 targeting may be beneficial in treating aggressive NPC.

Author information

Author/s: Lui, Vivian Wai Yan (VW); Wong, Elaine Yue Ling (EY); Ho, Yeung (Y); Hong, Bo (B); Wong, Sze Chuen Cesar (SC); Tao, Qian (Q); Choi, Gigi Ching Gee (GC); Au, Thomas Chi Chuen (TC); Ho, Kakiu (K); Yau, Daisy Mei Sze (DM); Ma, Brigette Buig Yue (BB); Hui, Edwin Pun (EP); Chan, Andrew Sai-Kit (AS); Tsang, Chi-Man (CM); Tsao, Sai-Wah (SW); Grandis, Jennifer Rubin (JR); Chan, Anthony Tak-Cheung (AT);

Affiliation: Cancer Signaling Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Clinical Oncology, Sir YK Pao Center for Cancer, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer (Int J Cancer), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 125 (issue 8) : pp 1884-93

Dates: Created 2009/08/26; Completed 2009/09/21;

PMID: 19588483, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Associated Chemicals: Drug Combinations (0) ; Laminin (0) ; Proteoglycans (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; RNA, Small Interfering (0) ; STAT3 Transcription Factor (0) ; matrigel (119978-18-6) ; Epidermal Growth Factor (62229-50-9) ; Collagen (9007-34-5)

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