2. Academic Validation
  3. Targeting EME1 Increases the Sensitivity of Camptothecin in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

Targeting EME1 Increases the Sensitivity of Camptothecin in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

  • FASEB J. 2026 Jan 31;40(2):e71434. doi: 10.1096/fj.202502314RR.
Xizhen Jiang 1,  Falian Liang 1,  Zhirui Lin 2,  Fang Yang 1,  Dongping Chen 1,  Gengde Hong 3,  Jinquan Liu 1,  Wenjing Yin 1,  Mengyao Wang 1,  Bin Qi 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Guangzhou Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 2 Institute of Medical Research, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 3 Department of Oncology and Hematology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Huizhou City, Huiyang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Huizhou, China.
PMID: 41532283 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202502314RR
Abstract

Essential meiotic structure-specific Endonuclease 1 (EME1) is integral to the maintenance of genomic stability in various cancers. However, its biological role and expression profile of this molecule in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain to be explored. In this study, we found that EME1 was overexpressed in NPC specimens compared to adjacent noncancerous tissues and was correlated with poorer overall survival outcomes. Furthermore, EME1 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of NPC cells in vitro and in vivo, with a corresponding sensitization to either camptothecin (CPT) or olaparib, evidenced by a further suppression of proliferation upon drug treatment. Notably, silencing EME1 significantly increased the sensitivity of NPC cell lines to CPT by enhancing ATM-CHEK2 phosphorylation and inducing nuclear abnormalities. Collectively, our findings suggest that combining EME1 modulation with agents such as CPT or olaparib could be an effective treatment strategy for NPC patients.

Keywords

DNA damage repair; EME1; camptothecin; drug sensitivity; nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

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