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Review
. 2022 Oct 11:16:10654.
doi: 10.3389/or.2022.10654. eCollection 2022.

Deciphering Driver of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Development

Handoko  1   2 , Melva Louisa  3 , Tiara Bunga Mayang Permata  2 , Soehartati A Gondhowiardjo  2   4
Affiliations
Review

Deciphering Driver of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Development

Handoko et al. Oncol Rev. .

Abstract

A great deal of progress has been made on understanding nasopharyngeal cancer in recent decades. Genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies have enabled us to gain a deeper understanding on the biology of nasopharyngeal cancer, and though this new information is elaborate and detailed, an overall picture of the driver of nasopharyngeal cancer that includes all this information is lacking. This review will focus on providing a broad overview, with plausible and simple language, on nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis based on current updated information. This will help readers to gain a broad understanding, which may be necessary to provide common ground for further research on nasopharyngeal cancer.

Keywords: EBV; HLA polymorphism; MHC; carcinogenesis; immunology; nasopharyngeal cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The plausible interaction between host genetics, EBV, immunity, and carcinogens over a long period of time result in development of fulminant nasopharyngeal cancer. Populations at risk, such as those with certain type of HLA polymorphism, when infected with chronic EBV together with environmental risk factors are more likely to develop abnormal epithelial proliferation. Chronic proliferations coupled with sluggish angiogenesis result in necrosis, which in turn triggers immune response. However, with chronic inflammation, over time the immune system develops tolerance and proliferation eventually unopposed, and cancer starts to develop.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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