The Y-Box-binding protein-1, a member of the cold-shock domain DNA-and RNA-binding protein superfamily, is known to mediate chemoresistance. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of Y-Box- Y-Box-binding protein-1 immunostaining was observed to be predominantly cytoplasmic. A higher recurrence of nasopharyngeal cancer was found in patients whose tissues had increased Y-Box-binding protein-1 expression (Po0.001). The Cox proportionate hazard regression model also established that high Y-Box-binding protein-1 immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with increased risk (2.13 times) of recurrence as compared to low Y-Box-binding protein-1 immunoreactivity (P ¼ 0.01). Within groups of patients treated by radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, recurrent cases had significantly higher Y-Box-binding protein-1 expression than nonrecurrent cases (Po0.001 and P ¼ 0.0035, respectively). These data suggest that Y-Box-binding protein-1 expression has clinicopathological significance with potential as a predictive marker of recurrence in nasopharyngeal cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Tay W-L, Tan P-H, Yip GW-C, Bay B-H. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: an Enigmatic Tumor. ARBS Annu Rev Biomed Sci 2008;