Protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 (PRC1) has been reported in correlation with various malignancies. Functionality of PRC1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was investigated, in perspective of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulatory circuitry. Aberrant expressed messenger RNA and lncRNA were screened out from the Gene Expression Omnibus microarray database. NPC cell line CNE‐2 was adopted for in vitro study and transfected with mimic or short hairpin RNA of miR‐194‐3p and PTPRG‐AS1. The radioactive sensitivity, cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were detected. PTPRG‐AS1 and PRC1 were upregulated in NPC, whereas miR‐194‐3p was downregulated. PTPRG‐AS1 was found to specifically bind to miR‐194‐3p as a competing endogenous RNA and miR‐194‐3p targets and negatively regulates PRC1. Overexpressed miR‐194‐3p or silenced PTPRG‐AS1 resulted in enhanced sensitivity to radiotherapy and cell apoptosis along with suppressed cell migration, invasion and proliferation in NPC. Furthermore, impaired tumor formation was also caused by miR‐194‐3p overexpression or PTPRG‐AS1 suppression through xenograft tumor in nude mice. In our study, PTPRG‐AS1/miR‐194‐3p/PRC1 regulatory circuitry was revealed in NPC, the mechanism of which can be of clinical significance for treatment of NPC.

Objective To investigate whether partial laryngectomy is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the effect of different partial laryngectomy methods on OSA. Method A prospective study was carried out involving 40 patients who underwent supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) (24) or vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) (16) for carcinoma of the larynx. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation determined by polysomnography (PSG), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score, and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated in patients before surgery, on the day of tracheal tube removal and three months later. In patients who developed apnea, laryngoscopy, Muller’s test, computer tomography (CT) and dynamic sleep magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to assess the location of airway stenosis and collapse. Results The AHI ( P <0.001) increased and the lowest oxygen saturation ( P <0.001), ESS score ( P <0.001) and BMI ( P =0.017) decreased after extubation compared with before surgery. Three months after extubation, the same changes were found in AHI ( P <0.001) and the lowest oxygen saturation ( P <0.001), but the ESS score ( P <0.001) increased compared with that preoperatively. The AHI in the SCPL group was significantly higher than that in the VPL group post-operatively ( P =0.010), while the miniSpO2 in the SCPL group was lower than that of the VPL group ( P =0.022). Laryngoscopy showed that the patients with partial excision of the larynx had a narrowed retropalatal and retrolingual space post-operatively. Muller's test showed the collapse of the retropalatal and retrolingual space, and the CT scan showed that the tongue root was positioned lower in the SCPL group. Compared with the retropalatal and retrolingual space in the expiratory phase according to dynamic sleep MRI, the space in the inspiratory phase was clearly decreased. Conclusion Laryngeal function preservation surgery for laryngeal cancer results in the occurrence of OSA by altering the anatomical structure of the larynx and pharynx. OSA was more severe in patients undergoing SCPL than in patients undergoing VPL. The effect of partial laryngectomy on OSA may be related to the surgical method used.