Aberrant expression of PAFAH1B3 associates with poor prognosis and affects proliferation and aggressiveness in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is among the most lethal tumors encountered in the head and neck, and currently lacks satisfactory therapeutic targets. Platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase 1B3 (PAFAH1B3), a cancer-relevant metabolic driver, is reported to play a critical role in controlling tumorigenesis and aggressiveness in several types of cancers. However, the role of PAFAH1B3 in HSCC progression has not yet been identified. METHODS: The expression pattern of PAFAH1B3 was examined using immunohistochemistry in 83 HSCC tumor tissues and 44 paired adjacent non-tumor samples. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore its association with prognosis of HSCC. In vitro loss-of-function assays were performed to explore the impact of PAFAH1B3 knockdown on the biological phenotype of the human HSCC cell line, ie, FaDu cells. RESULTS: PAFAH1B3 was overly expressed in the HSCC tumor tissues compared with the adjacent non-tumor samples. Moreover, high expression of PAFAH1B3 was positively correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis. PAFAH1B3 overexpression was associated with poor outcome in HSCC, but it was not an independent prognostic indicator. Furthermore, in vitro loss-of function experiments demonstrated that PAFAH1B3 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and disrupting cell cycle process, and the migratory and invasive capacities were also attenuated in the absence of PAFAH1B3. CONCLUSION: This study for the first time demonstrated the clinical value and the role of PAFAH1B3 in the biological function of HSCC. This work suggested that PAFAH1B3 might serve as a potential therapeutic target for HSCC patients.