[Correlation between expression of the Tiam1 gene and the invasion and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To study the relation between T lymphoma invasion/metastasis1 (Tiam1) gene and nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression.

METHOD

Using of reverse transcription polymerase chain (RT-PCR) technique on 41 nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue and 20 normal nasopharyngeal tissue to proceed the test of mRNA overexpression.

RESULT

Average expression of the Tiam1 gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue (1.183 +/- 0.73) is higher than in normal nasopharyngeal tissue (0.87 +/- 0.45) (P < 0.01). The positive relationship between the frequency of Tiam1 overexpression and clinical staging and T staging was very significant (P < 0.05) and increased gradually; The frequency of Tiam1 overexpression was 59.3% (16/27) in patients with lymph node metastasis, 21.4% (3/ 14) in patients without lymph node metastasis, overexpression between them was very significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Average expression of the Tiam1 gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue is higher than in normal nasopharyngeal tissue. Our data suggest that the overexpression of the Tiam1 gene correlates invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.