Latent membrane protein-1 protein induction toward vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is associated with Epstein–Barr virus infection as the main factor. Latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been suggested as the prognostic biomarker for NPC. AIM: This study is conducted to analyze the overexpression of LMP-1 protein and VEGF and the combination of these two in NPC patients. The role of LMP-1 protein in the induction of VEGF is identified by analyzing the association between these two proteins. METHODS: A cross-sectional design study is conducted at Adam Malik General Hospital. Formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded sections from the NPC tissue samples are submitted for immunohistochemistry staining. Fisher’s exact test is used to analyze variables relation. RESULTS: Among 56 samples, there was a significant correlation between LMP-1 protein overexpression with histopathological type and clinical staging, and VEGF overexpression with lymph node enlargement and clinical staging (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between LMP-1 protein with VEGF in NPC patients (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased expressions of LMP-1 protein, VEGF, and a combination of LMP-1 protein and VEGF are noted in correlation with increasing the clinical stages. In contrast to the previously suggested hypotheses, the correlation between these two proteins is not significant in the present study. It could happen due to the different associations of each protein overexpression toward the clinical parameter. However, these two proteins could be used in evaluating the prognosis and providing a targeted therapy to NPC.