Epigenetic Alterations of Wnt Signaling Pathways in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to discuss the epigenetic alterations of Wnt signaling pathways in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methylomic analyses have revealed that in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, numerous genes in Wnt signaling pathways are hypermethylated, which results in the inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes and aberrant activation of Wnt signaling. Reactivation of the tumor-suppressor genes by demethylation or ectopic expression inhibits the proliferation, metastasis, or stemness of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Epigenetic alterations of Wnt signaling pathways contribute to cancer-cell stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis during the tumorigenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methylated DNAs of Wnt signaling factors hold considerable potential as candidate biomarkers for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.