TRPP2 promotes the proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through upregulating Skp2/c-Myc.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the promotive role of TRPP2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) proliferation by targeting Skp2/c-Myc, thus accelerating the malignant progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TRPP2 levels in NPC patients with different T stages were detected. Correlation between TRPP2 level and clinical features of NPC patients was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves were depicted for assessing the prognostic value of TRPP2 in NPC. Subsequently, regulatory effects of TRPP2 on viability and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive ratio were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and EdU assay, respectively. Relative levels of Skp2 and c-Myc in NPC cells transfected with si-TRPP2 were examined. At last, the involvement of c-Myc in TRPP2-regulated proliferative ability of NPC was evaluated by performing rescue experiments. RESULTS: TRPP2 was upregulated in NPC tissues. TRPP2 level was higher in NPC patients with T3+T4 than those with T1+T2. Worse survival was observed in NPC patients expressing high level of TRPP2. TRPP2 level was correlated to T stage, N stage, M stage, and locoregional failure of NPC patients. Knockdown of TRPP2 reduced viability and EdU-positive ratio in NPC cells. In addition, relative levels of Skp2 and c-Myc in NPC cells transfected with si-TRPP2 were downregulated. Overexpression of c-Myc could partially reverse the regulatory effects of TRPP2 on NPC proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: TRPP2 stimulates NPC cells to proliferate by upregulating expressions of Skp2/c-Myc, thus deteriorating the development of NPC.