Both c-MYC knockdown and SPLUNC1 re-expression can down-regulate microRNA-141 (miR-141). miR-141 is up-regulated in NPC specimens in comparison with normal nasopharyngeal epithelium.
Additionally, the expression of c-Myc was positively correlated with that of miR-141 and the clinical stages of NPC patients and negatively associated with the expression of BRD7.
Comprehensive analysis of the coordinate expression of miRNAs and mRNAs reveals that miR-29a/c, miR-34b, miR-34c-3p, miR-34c-5p, miR-429, miR-203, miR-222, miR-1/206, miR-141, miR-18a/b, miR-544, miR-205 and miR-149 may play important roles on the development of NPC.
The study of miR-141 provided novel insight into the mechanism of NPC progression, which was correlated with the stage and metastatic state of patients.
Our findings demonstrate that the BRD7/miR-141/PTEN/AKT axis has critical roles in the progression of NPC and provide some promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of NPC.