Abstract:

Objective To investigate whether Silencing Forkhead Box Transcription Factor（FOXO3a） can promote tumor invasion and migration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma（NPC）. Methods The NPC cell lines CNE2 and HNE1 were transfected with lentiviruses encoding short hairpin RNA（shRNA） targeting FOXO3a or encoding mock shRNA，and transfection efficiency was checked using Western blotting and real-time PCR. Scratch and transwell tests were performed to determine whether silencing FOXO3a induced invasion and migration of NPC cells. Western blotting was performed to identify changes in levels of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers E-cadherin，Vimentin，N-cadherin，Twist and Snail. Localization of these marker proteins was analyzed using immunofluorescence. Western blotting and real-time PCR were also used to measure expression of matrix metalloproteinases（MMPs） 2 and 9. Results Stably transfected cell lines were constructed in which FOXO3a was silenced. Silencing FOXO3a promoted tumor invasion and migration，based on the scratch and transwell tests. Levels of the epithelial marker E-cadherin were reduced. In contrast，levels of the mesenchymal markers vimentin and N-cadherin were increased，as were levels of MMP2 and MMP9. Conclusion Silencing FOXO3a may promote tumor invasion and migration in NPC.

Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasm, FOXO3a, Invasion, Migration