Hubungan Ekpresi Deleted Lung Esophageal Cancer 1 (DLEC1) Dengan Stadium Karsinoma Nasofaring

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a head and neck malignancy with high incidence in Southeast Asia and is characterized by complex genetic and epigenetic alterations. One of the key mechanisms involved in NPC pathogenesis is the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes through promoter hypermethylation. Deleted in Lung and Esophageal Cancer 1 (DLEC1) is a tumor suppressor gene frequently silenced by epigenetic mechanisms in various malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the association between DLEC1 expression and the clinical stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study employed an analytical cross sectional design using secondary data from patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma at Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, between January 2021 and December 2023. A total of 31 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. DLEC1 gene expression was analyzed from tumor tissue samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between DLEC1 expression and tumor stage, tumor extension, cervical lymph node involvement, and histopathological subtype. The results demonstrated that reduced DLEC1 expression was more frequently observed in patients with advanced stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A statistically significant association was found between DLEC1 expression and clinical stage. Furthermore, decreased DLEC1 expression tended to correlate with greater tumor extension and cervical lymph node involvement. However, no significant association was identified between DLEC1 expression and histopathological subtype. In conclusion, DLEC1 expression is associated with the clinical stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Reduced expression of DLEC1 is related to disease progression, suggesting that DLEC1 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Further studies with larger sample sizes and prospective designs are required to validate these findings and explore the therapeutic implications of DLEC1.