Purpose: Several PCDH  genes were shown to be downregulated or silenced in carcinomas and act as candidate tumor suppressor genes. However, the functions of PCDH17  in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the PCDH17  promoter methylation status and its impact on the expression and functions of PCDH17  in NPC.
Patients and methods: To determine the mRNA levels and promoter methylation status of PCDH17  in NPC cell lines as well as 42 NPC patient specimens, we performed reverse transcription PCR, methylation-specific PCR, and bisulfite genome sequencing. The effects of ectopic PCDH17  expression in NPC cell lines were determined by colony formation, cell proliferation, wound healing, in vitro human umbilical vein endothelial cells tube formation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays and an in vivo subcutaneous tumor model.
Results: PCDH17  expression was almost absent or significantly reduced in 100% of the NPC cell lines (5/5). However, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A treatment restored PCDH17  expression. Promoter methylation was involved in PCDH17  silencing. Ectopic expression of PCDH17  in silenced NPC cells reduced colony formation, cell migration, angiogenesis, VEGF secretion, and tumorigenicity.
Conclusion: PCDH17  plays a tumor suppressor role in NPC. PCDH17 methylation may be a tumor-specific event and can be used as an epigenetic biomarker for NPC.
Keywords: nasopharyngeal carcinoma, PCDH17 , tumor suppressor gene, methylation, epigenetic inactivation