OBJECTIVETo investigate gene expression profile in nasopharyngeaL carcinoma (NPC) cell lines with different metastatic potentialities, in order to identify new candidate genes related to the development, progress and metastasis of NPC.

METHODSThe mRNA expressions of high metastatic NPC cell line 5-8F, tumorigenic but nonmetastatic NPC cell line 6-10B and non-tumorigenic NPC cell line 13-9B (3 sublines of SUNE-1) were investigated by cDNA microarray containing 14 000 cDNA clones. The alterations in gene expression levels were confirmed by reverse-transcription PCR.

RESULTSThere were 82 differentially expressed genes comparing 5-8F and 13-9B; 38 differentially expressed genes comparing 6-10B and 13-9B; 54 comparing 5-8F and 6-10B. There were 12 common differentially expressed genes comparing 6-10B, 5-8F and 13-9B; 14 common differentially expressed genes comparing 5-8F and 13-9B, 6-10B. The expressions of the above genes were involved in metabolism, transcription, differentiation, apoptosis and signal transduction.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression profile in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines is an important index in the search of new candidate genes related to NPC.