iTRAQ and two-dimensional-LC-MS/MS reveal NAA10 is a potential biomarker in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common and serious malignancies in China. However, the exact mechanisms of tumor progression are still unclear. Thus, identifying biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostic and recurrence assessment of ESCC is necessary.

iTRAQ was used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in tumor tissues. N-alpha-acetyltransferase 10 (NAA10) is confirmed and validated by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Furthermore, the effects of NAA10 on TE-1 cells were detected by CCK-8, colonies formation, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, migration and transwell assays. LinkedOmics was used to identify differential gene expression with NAA10 and to analyze Gene Ontology and KEGG pathways. Coexpression gene network was conducted by the STRING database and Cytoscape software (MCODE plug-in).

516 DEPs were identified. NAA10 was downregulated in cancer tissues and selected for further confirmed. Furthermore, NAA10 can inhibit proliferation and tumorigenesis, and suppress migration and invasion of TE-1. Functional network analysis suggested that NAA10 regulates the ribosome pathways involving eight ribosomal proteins.

These findings clearly demonstrated that NAA10 is a tumor suppressor and novel potential biomarker for ESCC, laying a foundation for further study of the role of NAA10 in carcinogenesis.