Abstract

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant cancer in South China. Previous studies have showed that Anterior Gradient Protein 2 (AGR2) and Aldo-Keto Reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) progressively increase in NPC primary and metastatic tissues, and AGR2 and AKR1B10 may have the potential to reflect the development of NPC. In this study, we showed that AGR2 and AKR1B10 expressions in NPC tissues were associated with the prognosis of NPC patients, the patients with highly expressed AGR2 and AKR1B10 had a poor prognosis. Consistently, the serum levels of AGR2 and AKR1B10 were markedly higher in NPC patients compared with healthy control, and these concentrations decreased after treatment. Additionally, there was a positive linear correlation between AGR2 and AKR1B10 levels in NPC patients. Furthermore, AGR2 and AKR1B10 showed a positive relationship with Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) grade and metastasis. Overall, there may be a tight relationship between AGR2 and AKR1B10 expression, and both of them can be used as serum biomarkers to achieve early diagnosis and provide effective therapeutic targets for NPC patients.

Keywords: AGR2; AKR1B10; Serum biomarker; Therapeutic target; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abbreviations: NPC: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; AGR2: Anterior Gradient Protein 2; AKR1B10: Aldo- Keto Reductase 1B10; EBV: Epstein-Barr Virus; MMP: Matrix Metalloproteinase; UPR: Unfolded Protein Response; ER: Endoplasmic Reticulum; OS: Overall Survival; ECM: Extracellular Matrix; EGFR: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor; IGF-1: Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1; DAG: Diacylglycerol; PKC: Protein Kinase C; CTL: Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte; PDI: Protein-Disulfide Isomerase