RACGAP1 promotes the malignant phenotype and cisplatin resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by upregulating HIF-1α

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a radiosensitive malignancy, but chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge. This study investigated the role of RACGAP1, a GTPase regulator often overexpressed in cancers, in NPC progression and chemoresistance. We observed significantly elevated RACGAP1 levels in NPC cell lines compared to normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. Functional experiments demonstrated that silencing RACGAP1 effectively inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced cisplatin sensitivity-evidenced by lower IC50 values and increased drug-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, these antitumor effects were linked to inhibition of HIF-1α signaling. Importantly, restoring HIF-1α expression partially reversed the phenotypic changes caused by RACGAP1 knockdown. In summary, our findings establish that RACGAP1 promotes malignant progression and confers cisplatin resistance in NPC by upregulating HIF-1α, suggesting the RACGAP1/HIF-1α axis as a promising therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance.