Analysis of the expression of Fas-L in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues

Sen Tien Tsai, Sheen Yie Fang, Yin Tai Jin, Ih Jen Su, Bei Chang Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial cancer with a high incidence in Southeast Asia. How it escapes attack from the host immune system is not fully understood. Recently, pieces of evidence show that Fas- ligand (Fas-L)-mediated apoptosis may be involved in immune privilege of tumours. To determine whether a similar mechanism may exist in NPC, the expression of Fas-L was analysed. Biopsy specimens of the nasopharynx were taken from 27 NPC patients. Histologically, they were either non-keratinizing or undifferentiated carcinomas. Nasopharyngeal biopsies of 11 other patients that proved to have no tumour served as control. The transcripts of Fas-L were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Localization of Fas-L protein was performed with immunohistostaining using an antibody recognizing human Fas-L. All nasopharyngeal tissues have a similar amount of transcripts of Fas-L. However, the Fas-L protein was detected exclusively on the cell surface of malignant epithelial cells of NPC. The present findings suggest that Fas-L protein may be involved in evading immune attack of NPC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)421-424
Number of pages4
JournalOral Oncology
Volume35
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999 Jul

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oral Surgery
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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