Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly invasive and metastatic head and neck cancer. Distant metastasis becomes the predominant mode of treatment failure in NPC patients. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), an active pharmaceutical component extracted from traditional Chinese medicine ginseng, shows antitumor effects in various cancers. In this study, we aimed to determine whether Rg3 inhibits the migration and invasion activity of NPC cells and to explore the possible mechanisms. Our results revealed that Rg3 hampers cell migration and invasion in both HNE1 and CNE2 cell lines. A reduced level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 was induced by Rg3 treatment. In addition, Rg3 significantly altered the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers with increased E-cadherin but decreased Vimentin and N-cadherin expression. Transforming growth factor β- (TGF-β-) induced morphological transition and marker proteins change of EMT were reversed by Rg3. What is more, Rg3 suppressed the expression of EMT-related transcription factors, especially the Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1). In summary, our data suggested that Rg3 could inhibit migration and invasion of NPC cells. This effect of Rg3 might be mediated through regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions and suppressing EMT. Thus, Rg3 may be a potentially effective agent for the treatment of NPC.
Highlights
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common head and neck cancer in Southern China [1]
Primary monoclonal antibodies including rabbit anti-human matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-9, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, Slug, Twist, Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) antibodies were purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (Danvers, MA, USA)
The front half of our study demonstrated that Rg3 can regulate the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers; we further tested whether Rg3 is able to reverse external stimulus-induced EMT in NPC cells
Summary
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common head and neck cancer in Southern China [1]. It shows highly invasive and metastatic feature with approximately 75% of patients present with regional lymph node metastasis and 10% present with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis [2, 3]. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), an advanced form of radiation technique, is able to deliver higher dose to the tumor and lower dose to the surrounding normal tissues. IMRT had been widely adopted in cancer treatment and its technical advantages achieved excellent local and regional controls in NPC patients [5,6,7]. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of NPC invasion and metastasis is urgently needed and helpful for improving the survival of NPC patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
