In addition, FLI-1 is also involved in various malignancy formation and progression in vitro and/or in vivo, including Ewing’s sarcoma [7], melanoma [8], breast cancer [9], lymphoma [10] and [11] and head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) [12], and tumor micro-angiogenesis [13]. Studies on the role of FLI-1 expression in NPC are rare. FLI-1 was found to be over-expressed in the metastatic Venetoclax NPC cell line, the 5-8F cell line, in the research by Yang et al [14]. However, little is known about the FLI-1 expression and prognostication of NPC patients. Therefore, this study aims to detect FLI-1 expression in NPC tissue

samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC), analyze the associations between FLI-1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, and evaluate the prognostic value of FLI-1 for NPC patients.

This study was approved by the Clinical Ethics Review Board of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. All the patients signed informed consent documents before participating in the study. Patients were recruited according to the following criteria: histologically diagnosed NPC with available biopsy sample; newly proven and non-metastatic NPC; no other malignancy or prior anti-cancer treatment; selleck inhibitor continuously finished at least radiotherapy at the Cancer Centre of Sun Yat-sen University with complete and detailed medical records and regular follow-ups. A total of consecutive 198 patients were eligible, who were diagnosed between May 2005 and December 2006. Medical files were reviewed retrospectively and patients were restaged based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging

system 2010 clinical classification (the seventh edition). All 198 patients were histologically diagnosed with differentiated non-keratinized carcinoma or undifferentiated non-keratinized carcinoma. Forskolin in vitro The tumor specimens were obtained by biting biopsy from primary NPC, prior to treatment, and processed through formalin fixation for at least 8 hours and paraffin embedment. Patients underwent a routine pretreatment evaluation including history, physical examination of the head and neck, optic fiber nasopharyngoscopy, nasopharynx and neck magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), chest X-ray, the abdominal ultrasonography, bone scanning, a complete blood count and biochemical profile. The serological titer of Epstein-Barr virus immunoglobulin A antibodies against viral capsid antigen (EBV VCA-IgA) was measured using an immunoenzymic assay. The serum titer of Epstein-Barr virus immunoglobulin A antibodies against early antigen (EBV EA-IgA) was further measured using an immunoenzymic assay by Raji cell line.