Expression of cellular death receptors for DR4 and DR5 mRNA in nasopharyngeal cancer tissues

Objective To assay the expression of cellular death receptors for DR4 and DR5 mRNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues. Methods Cellular total RNA isolated from NPC tissues was reversely transcribed into the first strand cDNAs, and the products were amplificated by PCR. After electrophoresising and dying with EB, the expression of DR4 or DR5 mRNA was analyzed. Results Twelve out of 20 NPC tissues were able to detect DR4 mRNA expression with a positive rate of 60%. In contrast, the expression of DR5 mRNA was present in all 20 NPC tissues. None of the 8 non-NPC nasopharyngeal tissues detected the expression of DR4 mRNA, but all of them expressed DR5 mRNA. Conclusion Between NPC tissue and non-NPC nasopharyngeal tissue, the expression of DR4 receptor mRNA is different. No difference is found in the expression of DR5 receptor mRNA. It implies that the receptors of DR4 and DR5 may play different roles between NPC tissue and non-NPC nasopharyngeal tissue.