Advances in Research on microRNAs Related to the Invasion and Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), which is associated with latent Epstein-Barr virus infection in most cases, is a unique epithelial malignancy arising from the nasopharyngeal mucosal lining. Accumulating evidence is providing insights into the genetic and molecular aberrations that likely drive nasopharyngeal tumor development and progression. We review recent analyses of microRNAs (miRNAs), including Epstein-Barr virus-encoded miRNAs (EBV-encoded miRNAs) and dysregulated cellular miRNAs, that may be related to the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The studies summarized herein have greatly expanded our knowledge of the molecular biology of NPC involving miRNAs, and they may provide new biological targets for clinical diagnosis and reveal the potential of microRNA therapeutics. However, much remains to be uncovered.

Keywords: EBV-encoded miRNAs; NPC; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; invasion; metastasis; miRNAs.