2. Academic Validation
  3. TOM40 regulates the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through ROS-mediated AKT/mTOR and p53 signaling

TOM40 regulates the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through ROS-mediated AKT/mTOR and p53 signaling

  • Discov Oncol. 2023 Jun 23;14(1):109. doi: 10.1007/s12672-023-00721-3.
Hong Ran 1 2,  Jin Zhang 1 2 3,  Xiaoxia Zeng 2,  Zhen Wang 2,  Peng Liu 1 2,  Chenglin Kang 1 2,  Shuqi Qiu 4 5,  Xianhai Zeng 6 7,  Peng Zhang 8 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Graduate and Scientific Research, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
  • 2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Longgang Otorhinolaryngology Hospital & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology, Shenzhen Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, No. 3004 Longgang Avenue, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, China.
  • 4 Department of Graduate and Scientific Research, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 5 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Longgang Otorhinolaryngology Hospital & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology, Shenzhen Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, No. 3004 Longgang Avenue, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 6 Department of Graduate and Scientific Research, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Longgang Otorhinolaryngology Hospital & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology, Shenzhen Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, No. 3004 Longgang Avenue, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 8 Department of Graduate and Scientific Research, Zunyi Medical University Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 9 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Longgang Otorhinolaryngology Hospital & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology, Shenzhen Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, No. 3004 Longgang Avenue, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
PMID: 37351718 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00721-3
Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent Cancer in Southern China, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. The translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) 40 is a transporter of mitochondrial proteins, and is involved in ovarian Cancer cell growth. However, its role in the progression of NPC is still unclear. We found that TOM40 levels were upregulated in NPC tissues and multiple NPC cell lines. In addition, high TOM40 expression in the tumor tissues was associated with poor overall survival and disease specific survival. TOM40 knockdown in the NPC cell lines inhibited their proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, TOM40 silencing also increased intracellular production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Mechanistically, the anti-tumor effects of TOM40 silencing were dependent on the inhibition of Akt/mTOR signaling and activation of p53 signaling. To summarize, TOM40 mediates NPC progression through ROS-mediated Akt/mTOR and p53 signaling. Our findings highlight the potential of TOM40 as a therapeutic target for NPC.

Keywords

AKT; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ROS; TOM40; p53.

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