Trop2 promotes proliferation, invasion and EMT of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through the NF-κB pathway

Human trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2), a cell surface transmembrane glycoprotein receptor, has been demonstrated to be closely associated with increasing tumor aggressiveness, metastasis and unfavorable prognosis. However, the biological roles of Trop2 and its underlying mechanism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (NPC) are still unclear. In this study, we found that Trop2 was up-regulated in NPC tissues and cell lines compared with normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues and cells. Trop2 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, invasion and the EMT process and activated the NF-κB signaling pathway, while Trop2 downregulation showed the opposite effects in NPC cells. Moreover, NF-κB inhibitor pyrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) or NF-κB knockdown attenuated Trop2-induced cell proliferation, invasion and EMT in NPC cells. Taken together, Trop2 accelerates cell proliferation, invasion and EMT in NPC via activating the NF-κB pathway, indicating that Trop2 may be exploited in targeted therapy for patients with NPC.