MORF4L1 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion by increasing p21 and E‑cadherin expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Sang,Yi; Zhang,Ruhua; Sun,Longhua; Chen,Kaddie  Kwok; Li,Si‑Wei; Xiong,Longxin; Peng,Yongjian; Zeng,Lei; Huang,Guofu

doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9588

MORF4L1 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion by increasing p21 and E‑cadherin expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Authors:
- Yi Sang
- Ruhua Zhang
- Longhua Sun
- Kaddie Kwok Chen
- Si‑Wei Li
- Longxin Xiong
- Yongjian Peng
- Lei Zeng
- Guofu Huang
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Affiliations: Nanchang Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Translational Research, Center Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330008, P.R. China, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat‑sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China, Respiratory Department, Nanchang Hospital of Integrative Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330008, P.R. China, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China, Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, P.R. China
Published online on: October 16, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9588
Pages: 294-302
Copyright: © Sang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Mortality factor 4‑like 1 (MORF4L1) is a member of a subgroup of histone acetyltransferases and belongs to the mortality factor on chromosome 4 (MORF4) class of proteins. However, the role of MORF4L1 in cancers is largely unknown. Using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and published datasets, the present study demonstrated that the expression of MORF4L1 is decreased in several cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Additionally, the methylation rate of the promoter of MORF4L1 was identified to be significantly higher in tumour cells than in normal cells. The ectopic expression of MORF4L1 was also revealed to inhibit cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in NPC, whereas the knockdown of MORF4L1 promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, the present study demonstrated that MORF4L1 functions as a tumour suppressor by increasing p21 and E‑cadherin levels. These findings may be useful novel targets for treating patients with NPC.

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