JAK3/STAT3 oncogenic pathway and PRDM1 expression stratify clinicopathologic features of extranodal NK/T‑cell lymphoma, nasal type

Abstract

The inactivation of tumor suppressor gene positive regulatory domain containing I (PRDM1) and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) have been detected in the majority of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (EN-NK/T-NT) cases. In the present study, their association with and effects on the clinicopathologic features of EN-NK/T-NT are described. PRDM1 was revealed to be expressed in 19 out of 58 patients (32.8%) with EN-NK/T-NT, and phosphorylated STAT3 was overexpressed in 42 out of 58 (72.4%). Oncogenic pathways were investigated by NanoString encounter technology in 5 PRDM1(+) and 5 PRDM1(-) EN-NK/T-NT specimens. Multiple oncogenic pathways involved in cell apoptosis, cellcycle (CC) and angiogenesis were discriminately activated in EN-NK/T-NT cases, and in PRDM1(+) cases in particular. The sustained activation of the Janus kinase 3 (JAK)/STAT3 pathway was more pronounced. In addition, missense mutations in the SRC homology 2 domain of STAT3 were detected in 7 out of 37 EN-NK/T-NT cases (18.92%), and the acquired mutation was related to the activation of the JAK3/STAT3 pathway. The downregulation of PRDM1 and upregulation of phospho-STAT3 (Tyr705) were associated with angiocentric infiltration of EN-NK/T-NT (P=0.039). Notably, the prognosis of patients in the PRDM1(+)/STAT3 [mutated (mut-)] group was considerably improved than that of patients in the STAT3(mut+)/PRDM(-) group (P=0.037). In addition, the inhibition of NK/T cell lymphoma cell lines by Stattic and tofacitinib could suppress cell proliferation by inducing cell apoptosis or arresting the CC. The present results revealed that the JAK3/STAT3 oncogenic pathway and PRDM1 expression could stratify clinicopathologic features of EN-NK/T-NT. The inhibition of the JAK3/STAT3 pathway may serve as a treatment option for EN-NK/T-NT.