Objective: To compare the gene expression map of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissue with that of the control tissue by cDNA array and to discuss possible reasons of TP53 accumulation in NPC tissue.
Methods: After the hybridization of Atlas human cancer cDNA expression array 7742-1, analysis of Atlas arrays by means of AtlasImage 1.01a was carried out. Then, the results of array were verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene expression alteration on the protein level was verified by immunohistochemistry.
Results: 134 of 588 tumor-related genes were upregulated and 88 downregulated. Thirteen of 32 p53-regulated genes showed differential expression with 11 upregulated and 2 downregulated.
Conclusion: (1) p53 dysfunction exists in NPC tissues, (2) MDM2, p21 and Bax may be involved in the regulation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth.