EZH2

Gene Summary

Gene:EZH2; enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit
Aliases: WVS, ENX1, KMT6, WVS2, ENX-1, EZH2b, KMT6A
Location:7q36.1
Summary:This gene encodes a member of the Polycomb-group (PcG) family. PcG family members form multimeric protein complexes, which are involved in maintaining the transcriptional repressive state of genes over successive cell generations. This protein associates with the embryonic ectoderm development protein, the VAV1 oncoprotein, and the X-linked nuclear protein. This protein may play a role in the hematopoietic and central nervous systems. Multiple alternatively splcied transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2011]
Databases:OMIM, HGNC, Ensembl, GeneCard, Gene
Protein:histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EZH2
Source:NCBIAccessed: 31 August, 2019

Ontology:

What does this gene/protein do?
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Pathways:What pathways are this gene/protein implicaed in?
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Cancer Overview

Research Indicators

Publications Per Year (1994-2019)
Graph generated 31 August 2019 using data from PubMed using criteria.

Literature Analysis

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Tag cloud generated 31 August, 2019 using data from PubMed, MeSH and CancerIndex

Latest Publications: EZH2 (cancer-related)

Romanchikova N, Trapencieris P
Wedelolactone Targets EZH2-mediated Histone H3K27 Methylation in Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(8):4179-4184 [PubMed] Related Publications
BACKGROUND/AIM: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), possesses histone N-methyltransferase (HMT) activity and plays an essential role in cancer initiation and development. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of Wedelolactone (WL) to inhibit the methylation activity of EZH2.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell line, Mino, was treated with WL, while untreated cells were used as control. HMT activity and EZH2 amount were measured in nuclear extracts from WL-treated and control Mino cells.
RESULTS: WL was found to target EZH2-mediated histone H3K27 methylation. Along with the inhibition of H3K27 methylation in vitro (IC50=0.3 μM), WL suppressed HMT activity in Mino cells with an IC50 value of 3.2 μM. We detected a reduced amount of EZH2 in Mino cells treated with WL, compared to untreated control cells.
CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that WL induces inhibition of H3K27 methylation via EZH2 modulation and decreases cell proliferation in MCL, in vitro. WL is proposed as a promising agent and a novel epigenetic approach in MCL investigation and treatment.

Böhm J, Muenzner JK, Caliskan A, et al.
Loss of enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) at tumor invasion front is correlated with higher aggressiveness in colorectal cancer cells.
J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2019; 145(9):2227-2240 [PubMed] Related Publications
PURPOSE: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is associated with epigenetic gene silencing and aggressiveness in many tumor types. However, the prognostic impact of high EZH2 expression is controversially discussed for colorectal cancer. For this reason, we immunohistochemically analyzed EZH2 expression in 105 specimens from colon cancer patients separately for tumor center and invasion front.
METHODS: All sections from tissue microarrays were evaluated manually and digitally using Definiens Tissue Studio software (TSS). To mirror-image the EZH2 status at the tumor invasion front, we treated HCT116 colon cancer cells with the EZH2 inhibitor 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) and studied the growth of in ovo xenografts in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.
RESULTS: We showed a significant decrease in EZH2 expression and the repressive H3K27me3 code at the tumor invasion front as supported by the TSS-constructed heatmaps. Loss of EZH2 at tumor invasion front, but not in tumor center was correlated with unfavorable prognosis and more advanced tumor stages. The observed cell cycle arrest in vitro and in vivo was associated with higher tumor aggressiveness. Xenografts formed by DZNep-treated HCT116 cells showed loosely packed tumor masses, infiltrative growth into the CAM, and high vessel density.
CONCLUSION: The differences in EZH2 expression between tumor center and invasion front as well as different scoring and cutoff values can most likely explain controversial literature data concerning the prognostic value of EZH2. Epigenetic therapies using EZH2 inhibitors have to be carefully evaluated for each specific tumor type, since alterations in cell differentiation might lead to unfavorable results.

Luo J, Wang K, Yeh S, et al.
LncRNA-p21 alters the antiandrogen enzalutamide-induced prostate cancer neuroendocrine differentiation via modulating the EZH2/STAT3 signaling.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2571 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
While the antiandrogen enzalutamide (Enz) extends the castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients' survival an extra 4.8 months, it might also result in some adverse effects via inducing the neuroendocrine differentiation (NED). Here we found that lncRNA-p21 is highly expressed in the NEPC patients derived xenograft tissues (NEPC-PDX). Results from cell lines and human clinical sample surveys also revealed that lncRNA-p21 expression is up-regulated in NEPC and Enz treatment could increase the lncRNA-p21 to induce the NED. Mechanism dissection revealed that Enz could promote the lncRNA-p21 transcription via altering the androgen receptor (AR) binding to different androgen-response-elements, which switch the EZH2 function from histone-methyltransferase to non-histone methyltransferase, consequently methylating the STAT3 to promote the NED. Preclinical studies using the PDX mouse model proved that EZH2 inhibitor could block the Enz-induced NED. Together, these results suggest targeting the Enz/AR/lncRNA-p21/EZH2/STAT3 signaling may help urologists to develop a treatment for better suppression of the human CRPC progression.

Jain SU, Do TJ, Lund PJ, et al.
PFA ependymoma-associated protein EZHIP inhibits PRC2 activity through a H3 K27M-like mechanism.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2146 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Posterior fossa type A (PFA) ependymomas exhibit very low H3K27 methylation and express high levels of EZHIP (Enhancer of Zeste Homologs Inhibitory Protein, also termed CXORF67). Here we find that a conserved sequence in EZHIP is necessary and sufficient to inhibit PRC2 catalytic activity in vitro and in vivo. EZHIP directly contacts the active site of the EZH2 subunit in a mechanism similar to the H3 K27M oncohistone. Furthermore, expression of H3 K27M or EZHIP in cells promotes similar chromatin profiles: loss of broad H3K27me3 domains, but retention of H3K27me3 at CpG islands. We find that H3K27me3-mediated allosteric activation of PRC2 substantially increases the inhibition potential of EZHIP and H3 K27M, providing a mechanism to explain the observed loss of H3K27me3 spreading in tumors. Our data indicate that PFA ependymoma and DIPG are driven in part by the action of peptidyl PRC2 inhibitors, the K27M oncohistone and the EZHIP 'oncohistone-mimic', that dysregulate gene silencing to promote tumorigenesis.

Zhi H, Lian J
LncRNA BDNF-AS suppresses colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration by epigenetically repressing GSK-3β expression.
Cell Biochem Funct. 2019; 37(5):340-347 [PubMed] Related Publications
This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism and biological roles of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) brain-derived neurotrophic factor antisense (BDNF-AS) in colorectal cancer (CRC). The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were performed to detect the expressions of lncRNA BDNF-AS and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in human CRC tissues and cell lines. The cell proliferation, transwell migration, and invasion assays were carried out to evaluate the effect of lncRNA BDNF-AS on the growth of CRC cells. RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were conducted to confirm the interaction between lncRNA BDNF-AS and enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to verify the enrichment of EZH2 and histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in the promoter region of GSK-3β in CRC cells. LncRNA BDNF-AS expression was significantly decreased, while GSK-3β was highly expressed in human CRC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, lncRNA BDNF-AS induced inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells via inhibiting GSK-3β expression. Mechanistically, BDNF-AS led to GSK-3β promoter silencing in CRC cells through recruitment of EZH2. In conclusion, lncRNA BDNF-AS functioned as an oncogene in CRC and shed new light on lncRNA-directed therapeutics in CRC. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: LncRNA BDNF-AS is recently reported to be remarkably downregulated in a variety of tumours and served as a tumour suppressor. However, the functions and underlying mechanism of lncRNA BDNF-AS in CRC pathogenesis have not been reported yet. Our study is the first to demonstrate the effect of lncRNA BDNF-AS in CRC and revealed that lncRNA BDNF-AS expression is negatively correlated with the aggressive biological behaviour of CRC. Further investigation demonstrated that lncRNA BDNF-AS functioned as a tumour suppressor in CRC progression by suppressing GSK-3β expression through binding to EZH2 and H3K27me3 with the GSK-3β promoter, shedding light on the diagnosis and therapy for CRC.

Wang X, Hua Y, Xu G, et al.
Targeting EZH2 for glioma therapy with a novel nanoparticle-siRNA complex.
Int J Nanomedicine. 2019; 14:2637-2653 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Background: For the past few years, gene-therapy has recently shown considerable clinical benefit in cancer therapy, and the applications of gene therapies in cancer treatments continue to increase perennially. EZH2, an ideal candidate for tumor gene therapy, plays an important role in the tumorigenesis.
Methods: In this study, we developed a novel gene delivery system with a self-assembly method by Methoxy polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (MPEG-PCL) and DOTAP(DMC). And EZH2si-DMC was used to research anti-glioma both in vitro and in vivo.
Results: DMC with zeta-potential value of 36.7 mV and size of 35.6 nm showed good performance in the delivery siRNA to glioma cell in vitro with high 98% transfection efficiency. EZH2si-DMC showed good anti-glioma effect in vitro through inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell growth. What's more, treatment of tumor-bearing mice with DMC-EZH2si complex had significantly inhibited tumor growth at the subcutaneous model in vivo by inhibiting EZH2 protein expression, promoting apoptosis and reducing proliferation.
Conclusion: The EZH2 siRNA and DMC complex may be used to treat the glioma in clinical as a new drug.

Xiang XH, Yang L, Zhang X, et al.
Seven-senescence-associated gene signature predicts overall survival for Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
World J Gastroenterol. 2019; 25(14):1715-1728 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Cellular senescence is a recognized barrier for progression of chronic liver diseases to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of a cluster of genes is altered in response to environmental factors during senescence. However, it is questionable whether these genes could serve as biomarkers for HCC patients.
AIM: To develop a signature of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) that predicts patients' overall survival (OS) to improve prognosis prediction of HCC.
METHODS: SAGs were identified using two senescent cell models. Univariate COX regression analysis was performed to screen the candidate genes significantly associated with OS of HCC in a discovery cohort (GSE14520) for the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator modelling. Prognostic value of this seven-gene signature was evaluated using two independent cohorts retrieved from the GEO (GSE14520) and the Cancer Genome Atlas datasets, respectively. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the predictive accuracy of the seven-SAG signature and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP).
RESULTS: A total of 42 SAGs were screened and seven of them, including
CONCLUSION: We developed a seven-SAG signature, which could predict OS of Asian HCC patients. This risk model provides new clinical evidence for the accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment of HCC.

Xie JJ, Li WH, Li X, et al.
LncRNA MALAT1 promotes colorectal cancer development by sponging miR-363-3p to regulate EZH2 expression.
J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2019 Mar-Apr; 33(2):331-343 [PubMed] Related Publications
LncRNA MALAT1 is reported to play a potential role in human cancers. Hence, we investigated the effects of MALAT1 on colorectal cancer

Lima-Fernandes E, Murison A, da Silva Medina T, et al.
Targeting bivalency de-represses Indian Hedgehog and inhibits self-renewal of colorectal cancer-initiating cells.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):1436 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
In embryonic stem cells, promoters of key lineage-specific differentiation genes are found in a bivalent state, having both activating H3K4me3 and repressive H3K27me3 histone marks, making them poised for transcription upon loss of H3K27me3. Whether cancer-initiating cells (C-ICs) have similar epigenetic mechanisms that prevent lineage commitment is unknown. Here we show that colorectal C-ICs (CC-ICs) are maintained in a stem-like state through a bivalent epigenetic mechanism. Disruption of the bivalent state through inhibition of the H3K27 methyltransferase EZH2, resulted in decreased self-renewal of patient-derived C-ICs. Epigenomic analyses revealed that the promoter of Indian Hedgehog (IHH), a canonical driver of normal colonocyte differentiation, exists in a bivalent chromatin state. Inhibition of EZH2 resulted in de-repression of IHH, decreased self-renewal, and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy in vivo. Our results reveal an epigenetic block to differentiation in CC-ICs and demonstrate the potential for epigenetic differentiation therapy of a solid tumour through EZH2 inhibition.

Wassef M, Luscan A, Aflaki S, et al.
EZH1/2 function mostly within canonical PRC2 and exhibit proliferation-dependent redundancy that shapes mutational signatures in cancer.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019; 116(13):6075-6080 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
Genetic mutations affecting chromatin modifiers are widespread in cancers. In malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), which plays a crucial role in gene silencing, is inactivated through recurrent mutations in core subunits embryonic ectoderm development (EED) and suppressor of zeste 12 homolog (SUZ12), but mutations in PRC2's main catalytic subunit enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) have never been found. This is in contrast to myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, which harbor frequent loss-of-function mutations in EZH2. Here, we investigated whether the absence of EZH2 mutations in MPNST is due to a PRC2-independent (i.e., noncanonical) function of the enzyme or to redundancy with EZH1. We show that, in the absence of SUZ12, EZH2 remains bound to EED but loses its interaction with all other core and accessory PRC2 subunits. Through genetic and pharmacological analyses, we unambiguously establish that EZH2 is functionally inert in this context, thereby excluding a PRC2-independent function. Instead, we show that EZH1 and EZH2 are functionally redundant in the slowly proliferating MPNST precursors. We provide evidence that the compensatory function of EZH1 is alleviated upon higher proliferation. This work reveals how context-dependent redundancies can shape tumor-type specific mutation patterns in chromatin regulators.

Li N, Liu Y, Pang H, et al.
Methylation-Mediated Silencing of MicroRNA-211 Decreases the Sensitivity of Melanoma Cells to Cisplatin.
Med Sci Monit. 2019; 25:1590-1599 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND Malignant melanoma is recalcitrant to most existing chemotherapies, and aberrant expression of miR-211 plays prominent roles in progression of melanoma. However, the trigger mechanism of aberrant miR-211 expression in melanoma is still elusive. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used qRT-PCR to test miR-211 expression. Cell viability assay and mouse xenograft assay were performed to examine the role of miR-211 on the sensitivity of melanoma cells to cisplatin. The epigenetic modification of miR-211 promoter was assess by DNA methylation analysis and DAC treatment. RESULTS In this study, decreased miR-211 expression was detected. Bisulfite sequencing PCR showed that DNA hypermethylation contributed to the downregulation of miR-211 in melanoma tissues. In melanoma cells, overexpressed 211 could enhance the anticancer effect of cisplatin and restoration of miR-211 rendered susceptibility to cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant cells. And the same result was showed in vivo by mouse xenograft assay. What is more, DAC treatment could increase miR-211 expression and EZH2 expression was increased in cisplatin-resistant cells. MiR-211 could be transcriptionally repressed by EZH2 mediated promoter methylation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings revealed that epigenetic modification of miR-211 governed melanoma cell chemosensitivity and were involved in the progression of tumorigenesis.

Ren Y, Wang YF, Zhang J, et al.
Targeted design and identification of AC1NOD4Q to block activity of HOTAIR by abrogating the scaffold interaction with EZH2.
Clin Epigenetics. 2019; 11(1):29 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Nearly 25% of long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) recruit chromatin-modifying proteins (e.g., EZH2) to silence target genes. HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is deregulated in diverse cancers and could be an independent and powerful predictor of eventual metastasis and death. Yet, it is challenging to develop small molecule drugs to block activity of HOTAIR with high specificity in a short time.
RESULTS: Our previous study proved that the 5' domain, but not its 3' domain, was the function domain of HOTAIR responsible for tumorigenesis and metastasis in glioblastoma and breast cancer, by recruiting and binding EZH2. Here, we targeted to establish a structure-based methodology to identify lead compounds of HOTAIR, by abrogating scaffold interactions with EZH2. And a small compound AC1NOD4Q (ADQ) was identified by high-throughput molecular docking-based virtual screening of the PubChem library. Our analysis revealed that ADQ was sufficiently and specifically interfering HOTAIR/EZH2 interaction, thereby impairing the H3K27-mediated tri-methylation of NLK, the target of HOTAIR gene, and consequently inhibiting tumor metastasis through Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro and in orthotopic breast cancer models. The results of RIP and EMSA further revealed that 36G46A of 5' domain was the essential binding site for ADQ exerted its inhibitory effect, further narrowed the structure and function of HOTAIR from the 5' functional domain to the micro-domain.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest of a potential new strategy to discover the lead compound for targeted lincRNA therapy and potentially pave the way for exploiting ADQ as a scaffold for more effective small molecule drugs.

Pang B, Wang Q, Ning S, et al.
Landscape of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2019; 38(1):79 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: The landscape and biological functions of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer are still unknown.
METHODS: Data from whole transcriptome sequencing of 33 breast specimens in the Harbin Medical University Cancer Center cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas was applied to identify and validate the landscape of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs, which was further validated by The Cancer Genome Atlas pancancer data including 33 cancer types and 12,839 patients. Next, the expression model, prognostic roles, potential biological functions and epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs were investigated and validated in the breast cancer and pancancer cohorts. Finally, EPB41L4A-AS2 was selected to validate our novel finding, and the tumor suppressive roles of EPB41L4A-AS2 in breast cancer were examined.
RESULTS: We identified and validated the landscape of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer. The expression of the identified long noncoding RNAs was downregulated in cancer tissue samples compared with normal tissue samples, and these long noncoding RNAs correlated with a favorable prognosis in breast cancer patients and the patients in the pancancer cohort. Multiple carcinogenesis-associated biological functions were predicted to be regulated negatively by these long noncoding RNAs. Moreover, these long noncoding RNAs were transcriptionally regulated by epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation and histone methylation modification. Finally, EPB41L4A-AS2 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, EPB41L4A-AS2, acting at least in part as a tumor suppressor, upregulated tumor suppressor gene expression. Moreover, ZNF217 recruited EZH2 to the EPB41L4A-AS2 locus and suppressed the expression of EPB41L4A-AS2 by epigenetically increasing H3K27me3 enrichment.
CONCLUSIONS: This work enlarges the functional landscape of known long noncoding RNAs in human cancer and provides novel insights into the suppressive roles of these long noncoding RNAs.

Huang HC, Chao CC, Wu PH, et al.
Epigenetic silencing of the synthesis of immunosuppressive Siglec ligand glycans by NF-κB/EZH2/YY1 axis in early-stage colon cancers.
Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech. 2019; 1862(2):173-183 [PubMed] Related Publications
Normal colonic epithelial cells express sialyl 6-sulfo Lewis

Wei Y, Lao XM, Xiao X, et al.
Plasma Cell Polarization to the Immunoglobulin G Phenotype in Hepatocellular Carcinomas Involves Epigenetic Alterations and Promotes Hepatoma Progression in Mice.
Gastroenterology. 2019; 156(6):1890-1904.e16 [PubMed] Related Publications
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Little is known about the composition and generation of plasma cell subsets in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and how these associate with outcomes. We investigated whether, or how, plasma cells differentiate and function in patients with HCC and mice with liver tumors.
METHODS: We analyzed subset composition and distribution of plasma cells in HCC samples from 342 patients who underwent curative resection at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University in China; samples of non-tumor liver tissue were used as controls. We associated plasma cell profiles with patient outcomes. Tissue-derived leukocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The ability of macrophages to regulate plasma cell differentiation was determined in ex vivo cultures of cells from human HCC tissues. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were given injections of Hepa1-6 cells, which formed hepatomas, or H22 cells, which formed ascitic hepatomas. Gene expression patterns were analyzed in human HCC, mouse hepatoma, and non-tumor tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mice with hepatomas were given injections of GSK126 (an inhibitor of histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase [EZH2]) and 5-AZA-dC (an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases); tumor tissues were analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry for the presence of immune cells and cytokines.
RESULTS: B cells isolated from HCCs had somatic hypermutations and class-switch recombinations to the IgG phenotype that were not observed in non-tumor tissues. Increased level of plasma cells correlated with poor outcomes of patients. Activated CD4
CONCLUSIONS: Human HCC tissues contain B cells with class-switch recombinations to the IgG phenotype. Activated CD4

Qi Y, Li J
Triptolide inhibits the growth and migration of colon carcinoma cells by down-regulation of miR-191.
Exp Mol Pathol. 2019; 107:23-31 [PubMed] Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Triptolide (TPL) is the active component of Tripterygium wifordii Hook F, which has been reported to exert anti-tumor efficacies. Herein, we aimed to examine the efficacy of TPL in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and to reveal its underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: Human CRC cell lines HT-29 and SW480 were treated by TPL for 24 h in the presence or absence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer TGF-β1. The expression of miR-191 in cell was overexpressed by miRNA transfection. Thereafter, cell viability, migration, apoptosis, EMT-related protein expressions, and the activation of NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were respectively assessed. Moreover, a mouse model of CRC was established and the effects of TPL on the growth of primary tumors were tested.
RESULTS: TPL (50 and 100 nM) significantly reduced cell viability and migration, but increased apoptotic cell rate. TPL up-regulated Bax, increased the cleavage of caspase-3 and -9, and neutralized TGF-β1-induced alterations of EMT indicators, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail. At the meantime, TPL treatment down-regulated miR-191 expression, and the effect of TPL on miR-191 expression was mediated by EZH2. More interestingly, anti-CRC properties and the inhibitory effects of TPL on NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were reversed by miR-191 up-regulation. In vivo data showed that, TPL treatment decreased the growth of primary tumor xenografts and the expression of miR-191.
CONCLUSION: TPL is effective in killing CRC cells and suppressing the migratory capacity. TPL exerts anti-CRC properties possibly via down-regulating miR-191, and blocking the activation of NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.

Bhaskaran V, Nowicki MO, Idriss M, et al.
The functional synergism of microRNA clustering provides therapeutically relevant epigenetic interference in glioblastoma.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):442 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
MicroRNA deregulation is a consistent feature of glioblastoma, yet the biological effect of each single gene is generally modest, and therapeutically negligible. Here we describe a module of microRNAs, constituted by miR-124, miR-128 and miR-137, which are co-expressed during neuronal differentiation and simultaneously lost in gliomagenesis. Each one of these miRs targets several transcriptional regulators, including the oncogenic chromatin repressors EZH2, BMI1 and LSD1, which are functionally interdependent and involved in glioblastoma recurrence after therapeutic chemoradiation. Synchronizing the expression of these three microRNAs in a gene therapy approach displays significant anticancer synergism, abrogates this epigenetic-mediated, multi-protein tumor survival mechanism and results in a 5-fold increase in survival when combined with chemotherapy in murine glioblastoma models. These transgenic microRNA clusters display intercellular propagation in vivo, via extracellular vesicles, extending their biological effect throughout the whole tumor. Our results support the rationale and feasibility of combinatorial microRNA strategies for anticancer therapies.

He C, Sun J, Liu C, et al.
Elevated H3K27me3 levels sensitize osteosarcoma to cisplatin.
Clin Epigenetics. 2019; 11(1):8 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: In osteosarcoma (OS), chemotherapy resistance has become one of the greatest issues leading to high mortality among patients. However, the mechanisms of drug resistance remain elusive, limiting therapeutic efficacy. Here, we set out to explore the relationship between dynamic histone changes and the efficacy of cisplatin against OS.
RESULTS: First, we found two histone demethylases associated with histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) demethylation, KDM6A, and KDM6B that were upregulated after cisplatin treatment. Consistent with the clinical data, cisplatin-resistant OS specimens showed lower H3K27me3 levels than sensitive specimens. Then, we evaluated the effects of H3K27me3 alteration on OS chemosensitivity. In vitro inhibition of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 in OS cells decreased H3K27me3 levels and led to cisplatin resistance. Conversely, inhibition of the demethylases KDM6A and KDM6B increased H3K27me3 levels in OS and reversed cisplatin resistance in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, with the help of RNA sequencing (RNAseq), we found that PRKCA and MCL1 directly participated in the process by altering H3K27me3 on their gene loci, ultimately inactivating RAF/ERK/MAPK cascades and decreasing phosphorylation of BCL2.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a new epigenetic mechanism of OS resistance and indicates that elevated H3K27me3 levels can sensitize OS to cisplatin, suggesting a promising new strategy for the treatment of OS.

Cetani F, Pardi E, Marcocci C
Parathyroid Carcinoma.
Front Horm Res. 2019; 51:63-76 [PubMed] Related Publications
Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare endocrine malignancy, accounting for <1% of all cases of sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and up to 15% in the hereditary hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome. Genomic alterations identified in PC are mostly represented by CDC73 gene mutations, codifying for a loss-of-function protein termed parafibromin. Whole exome sequencing identified mutations in other genes, such as mTOR, KMT2D, CDKN2C, THRAP3, PIK3CA, and EZH2 genes, CCND1 gene amplification. The diagnosis of PC is quite difficult due to the lack of reliable clinical diagnostic criteria, and in the majority of cases is made postoperatively at histological examination. The clinical manifestations of PC are primarily due to the excessive secretion of PTH by the tumor rather than spread to local or distant organs. En bloc resection of the parathyroid tumor represents the initial mainstay treatment of patients with PC. Multiple surgical procedures may be required, although surgical morbidity should be taken into account. A 5- and 10-year survival between 77-100 and 49-91%, respectively, has been reported. When the tumor is no more resectable, medical treatment of hypercalcemia has a pivotal role in the management of these patients.

Natsumeda M, Liu Y, Nakata S, et al.
Inhibition of enhancer of zest homologue 2 is a potential therapeutic target for high-MYC medulloblastoma.
Neuropathology. 2019; 39(2):71-77 [PubMed] Related Publications
MYC amplification is common in Group 3 medulloblastoma and is associated with poor survival. Group 3 and Group 4 medulloblastomas are also known to have elevated levels of histone H3-lysine 27-tri-methylation (H3K27me3), at least in part due to high expression of the H3K27 methyltransferase enhancer of zest homologue 2 (EZH2), which can be regulated by MYC. We therefore examined whether MYC expression is associated with elevated EZH2 and H3K27me3 in medulloblastoma, and if high-MYC medulloblastomas are particularly sensitive to pharmacological EZH2 blockade. Western blot analysis of low (DAOY, UW228, CB SV40) and high (DAOY-MYC, UW228-MYC, CB-MYC, D425) MYC cell lines showed that higher levels of EZH2 and H3K27me3 were associated with elevated MYC. In fixed medulloblastoma samples examined using immunohistochemistry, most MYC positive tumors also had high H3K27me3, but many MYC negative ones did as well, and the correlation was not statistically significant. All high MYC lines tested were sensitive to the EZH2 inhibitor EPZ6438. Many low MYC lines also grew more slowly in the presence of EPZ6438, although DAOY-MYC cells responded more strongly than parent DAOY cultures with lower MYC levels. We find that higher MYC levels are associated with increased EZH2, and pharmacological blockade of EZH2 is a potential therapeutic strategy for aggressive medulloblastoma with elevated MYC.

Li Z, Yu D, Li H, et al.
Long non‑coding RNA UCA1 confers tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer endocrinotherapy through regulation of the EZH2/p21 axis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Int J Oncol. 2019; 54(3):1033-1042 [PubMed] Related Publications
Tamoxifen is the gold standard for breast cancer endocrinotherapy. However, drug resistance remains a major limiting factor of tamoxifen treatment. Long non‑coding (lnc) RNA serves an important role in drug resistance; however, the molecular mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer endocrinotherapy are largely unclear. lncRNA urothelial cancer associated 1 (lncRNA UCA1, UCA1) has been proven to be dysregulated in human breast cancer and promotes cancer progression. In the present study, it was demonstrated that UCA1 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues compared with healthy tissues. Furthermore, the expression level of UCA1 was significantly greater in tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells (LCC2 and LCC9) when compared with those in the tamoxifen‑sensitive breast cancer cells (MCF‑7 and T47D). UCA1 silencing in LLC2 and LLC9 cells increased tamoxifen drug sensitivity by promoting cell apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Notably, the induced overexpression of UCA1 in MCF‑7 and T47D cells decreased the drug sensitivity of tamoxifen. The molecular mechanism involved in UCA1‑induced tamoxifen‑resistance was also investigated. It was identified that UCA1 was physically associated with the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which suppressed the expression of p21 through histone methylation (H3K27me3) on the p21 promoter. In addition, it was demonstrated that UCA1 expression was paralleled to the phosphorylation of CAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) and AKT. When LCC2 cells were treated with the phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002, the phosphorylation levels of CREB and AKT were significantly downregulated. Taken together, it was concluded that UCA1 regulates the EZH2/p21 axis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in breast cancer, and may be a potential therapeutic target for solving tamoxifen resistance.

Park JM, Lee JE, Park CM, Kim JH
USP44 Promotes the Tumorigenesis of Prostate Cancer Cells through EZH2 Protein Stabilization.
Mol Cells. 2019; 42(1):17-27 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
Ubiquitin-specific protease 44 (USP44) has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis across various tumors. However, the function of USP44 in prostate cancers and regulatory mechanism of histone-modifying enzymes by USP44 in tumors is not well-understood. Here, we found that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase, is regulated by USP44. We showed that EZH2 is a novel target of USP44 and that the protein stability of EZH2 is upregulated by USP44-mediated deubiquitination. In USP44 knockdown prostate cancer cells, the EZH2 protein level and its gene silencing activity were decreased. Furthermore, USP44 knockdown inhibited the tumorigenic characteristics and cancer stem cell-like behaviors of prostate cancer cells. Inhibition of tumorigenesis caused by USP44 knockdown was recovered by ectopic introduction of EZH2. Additionally, USP44 regulates the protein stability of oncogenic EZH2 mutants. Taken together, our results suggest that USP44 promotes the tumorigenesis of prostate cancer cells partly by stabilizing EZH2 and that USP44 is a viable therapeutic target for treating EZH2-dependent cancers.

Qiu X, Wang W, Li B, et al.
Targeting Ezh2 could overcome docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells.
BMC Cancer. 2019; 19(1):27 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Docetaxel was used to treat metastatic CRPC patients. However, Doc resistance in prostate cancer (PCa) hinders its clinical application.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the underlying mechanisms by which Doc resistance is developed and to find novel therapeutic target to cure Doc resistant PCa has clinical importance.
METHODS: We established Doc resistant cell lines and explored the role of Ezh2 in the development of Doc resistance by overexpressing its cDNA or using its inhibitor.
RESULTS: We found that Ezh2 was induced in our established Doc resistant (DocR) cells, which was attributable to the silenced expression of miR-101-3p and miR-138-5p. Blockage of Ezh2 activity by either inhibitor or miRNA mimics could overcome Doc resistance by suppressing Doc-induced cancer stem cells populations. Mechanistically, Ezh2 activity was required for the induced expression of Nanog, Sox2 and CD44 upon Doc treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Targeting Ezh2 could overcome Doc resistance.

Zhang Y, Yan L, Yao W, et al.
Integrated Analysis of Genetic Abnormalities of the Histone Lysine Methyltransferases in Prostate Cancer.
Med Sci Monit. 2019; 25:193-239 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND The histone methyltransferase (HMT) family includes histone lysine methyltransferases (HKMTs) and histone/protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). The role of HMT gene variants in prostate cancer remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate HMT gene variants in the pathogenesis and prognosis of human prostate cancer, using in vitro cell studies and bioinformatics analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Integrative bioinformatics analysis of the expression of 51 HMT genes in human prostate cancer was based on datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Correlation and regression analysis were used to identify critical HMTs in prostate cancer. Kaplan-Meier and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) were performed to evaluate the function of the HMTs on prognosis. Gene expression and function of 22Rv1 human prostate carcinoma cells were studied. RESULTS The HMT genes identified to have a role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer included the EZH2, SETD5, PRDM12, NSD1, SETD6, SMYD1, and the WHSC1L1 gene. The EZH2, SETD5, and SMYD1 genes were selected as a prognostic panel, with the SUV420H2 HMT gene. SETD2, NSD1, and ASH1L were identified as critical genes in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), similar to mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) complex family members. Knockdown of the SETD5 gene in 22Rv1 prostate carcinoma cells in vitro inhibited cancer cell growth and migration. CONCLUSIONS HMT gene variants may have a role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. Future studies may determine the role of HMT genes as prognostic biomarkers in patients with prostate cancer.

Burgos S, Montalban-Bravo G, Fuente L, et al.
Novel EZH2 mutation in a patient with secondary B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia after deletion 5q myelodysplastic syndrome treated with lenalidomide: A case report.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2019; 98(1):e14011 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 26/09/2019 Related Publications
RATIONALE: The gene deletion (5)(q22q35) is reported in 10-20% of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cases and is associated with response to lenalidomide and favorable prognosis. The authors report here a clinical case of MDS transformation to B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) with an associated accrual of an additional mutation following treatment with lenalidomide.
PATIENT CONCERNS: A 69-year-old man presented with progressive anemia, normal white blood cell count, and thrombocytopenia consistent with MDS. He was administered lenalidomide for 27 months, then developed acute B-cell lymphocytic leukemia and acquired a previously unreported mutation in the gene enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2).
DIAGNOSES: After 27 months of therapy with lenalidomide, a surveillance bone marrow aspiration (BMA) revealed 90% cellularity with persistent multilineage dysplasia and a population of blasts comprising 54% of all bone marrow elements by morphology, consistent with B-ALL, even though the patient was asymptomatic. Conventional karyotype showed no signs of del(5)(q22q35) MDS, however bone marrow next-generation sequencing (NGS) demonstrated the accrual of a nonsense mutation (c.211del pL71*) in exon 3 of EZH2. A confirmatory BMA yielded 70% blasts and clinical features indicative of B-ALL.
INTERVENTIONS: Mini-hyper-CVD (cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone at 50% dose reduction, no anthracycline, methotrexate at 75% dose reduction, cytarabine at 0.5 g/m × 4 doses) was administered for 21 days.
OUTCOMES: A follow-up BMA was performed 2 months after mini-hyper-CVD therapy, showing dysplastic features with 25% ring sideroblasts, but no evidence of B-ALL. The patient is currently receiving monthly-low dose decitabine, ofatumumab, and dexamethasone, and is transfusion independent and asymptomatic after 7 cycles.
LESSONS: The present study shows an extremely rare progression of del(5)(q22q35) MDS to B-ALL with accompanying NGS data and a newly described acquisition of an EZH2 frameshift mutation. This case highlights the importance of NGS as a diagnostic and surveillance tool for MDS.

Veija T, Kero M, Koljonen V, Böhling T
ALK and EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry are associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus status in Merkel cell carcinoma.
Histopathology. 2019; 74(6):829-835 [PubMed] Related Publications
AIMS: Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine tumour of the skin, can be categorised into two groups according to Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) presence. MCV-negative tumours are more aggressive and frequently associated with gene mutations. Some of the genes are potential therapeutic targets. We have previously reported EGFR mutations in six of 27 MCC tumours and overexpression of ALK and EZH2 at mRNA level in MCC tumours. In this study, we sought to determine expression of ALK, EGFR and EZH2 in MCC samples and assess their correlation to MCV status and clinical parameters.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Tissue microarrays were utilised and stained with primary antibodies. Staining data were statistically compared to patient sex, tumour location and development of metastasis and MCC-specific death; 112 tumours and their corresponding patient data were included. We found strong expression of ALK in 51% and strong expression of EZH2 in 76% of the tumours. There was evident correlation of ALK expression with MCV-positivity. Expression of EGFR was infrequent, presenting only in seven MCV-negative tumours. None of the proteins associated with development of metastasis or MCC specific death.
CONCLUSIONS: ALK and EZH2 expression are frequent in MCC and ALK expression correlates to MCV positivity. EGFR positive tumours might respond to EGFR inhibiting treatment.

Bhatia V, Yadav A, Tiwari R, et al.
Epigenetic Silencing of miRNA-338-5p and miRNA-421 Drives SPINK1-Positive Prostate Cancer.
Clin Cancer Res. 2019; 25(9):2755-2768 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/11/2019 Related Publications
PURPOSE: Serine peptidase inhibitor, Kazal type-1 (SPINK1) overexpression defines the second most recurrent and aggressive prostate cancer subtype. However, the underlying molecular mechanism and pathobiology of SPINK1 in prostate cancer remains largely unknown.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: miRNA prediction tools were employed to examine the
RESULTS: We established a critical role of miRNA-338-5p/-421 in posttranscriptional regulation of
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that miRNA-338-5p/-421 are epigenetically silenced in SPINK1-positive prostate cancer, although restoring the expression of these miRNAs using epigenetic drugs or synthetic mimics could abrogate SPINK1-mediated oncogenesis.

Mohamad Hanif EA, Shah SA
Overview on Epigenetic Re-programming: A Potential Therapeutic Intervention in Triple Negative Breast Cancers
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018; 19(12):3341-3351 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/11/2019 Related Publications
Breast cancer treatments leads to variable responses. Hormonal therapy is beneficial to receptor positive breast cancer subtypes and display better clinical outcome than triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) with FEC (5-Fluorouracil, Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide) the mainstay chemotherapy regiment. Owning to their negative expressions of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and HER2 receptors, disease recurrence and metastasis befalls some patients indicating resistance to FEC. Involvement of epigenetic silencing through DNA methylation, histone methylation, acetylation and sumoylation may be the key player in FEC chemoresistance. Epigenetic and molecular profiling successfully classified breast cancer subtypes, indicating potential driver mechanisms to the progression of TNBCs but functional mechanisms behind chemoresistance of these molecular markers are not well defined. Several epigenetic inhibitors and drugs have been used in the management of cancers but these attempts are mainly beneficial in hematopoietic cancers and not specifically favourable in solid tumours. Hypothetically, upon administration of epigenetic drugs, recovery of tumour suppressor genes is expected. However, high tendency of switching on global metastatic genes is predicted. Polycomb repressive complex (PRC) such as EZH2, SETD1A, DNMT, is known to have repressive effects in gene regulation and shown to inhibit cell proliferation and invasion in breast cancers. Individual epigenetic regulators may be an option to improve chemo-drug delivery in cancers. This review discussed on molecular signatures of various breast cancer subtypes and on-going attempts in understanding underlying molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulators as well as providing insights on possible ways to utilize epigenetic enzymes/inhibitors with responses to chemotherapeutic drugs to re-program cellular and biological outcome in TNBCs.

Cheng FHC, Lin HY, Hwang TW, et al.
E2F6 functions as a competing endogenous RNA, and transcriptional repressor, to promote ovarian cancer stemness.
Cancer Sci. 2019; 110(3):1085-1095 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/11/2019 Related Publications
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal cancer of the female reproductive system. In that regard, several epidemiological studies suggest that long-term exposure to estrogen could increase ovarian cancer risk, although its precise role remains controversial. To decipher a mechanism for this, we previously generated a mathematical model of how estrogen-mediated upregulation of the transcription factor, E2F6, upregulates the ovarian cancer stem/initiating cell marker, c-Kit, by epigenetic silencing the tumor suppressor miR-193a, and a competing endogenous (ceRNA) mechanism. In this study, we tested that previous mathematical model, showing that estrogen treatment of immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cells upregulated both E2F6 and c-KIT, but downregulated miR-193a. Luciferase assays further confirmed that microRNA-193a targets both E2F6 and c-Kit. Interestingly, ChIP-PCR and bisulphite pyrosequencing showed that E2F6 also epigenetically suppresses miR-193a, through recruitment of EZH2, and by a complex ceRNA mechanism in ovarian cancer cell lines. Importantly, cell line and animal experiments both confirmed that E2F6 promotes ovarian cancer stemness, whereas E2F6 or EZH2 depletion derepressed miR-193a, which opposes cancer stemness, by alleviating DNA methylation and repressive chromatin. Finally, 118 ovarian cancer patients with miR-193a promoter hypermethylation had poorer survival than those without hypermethylation. These results suggest that an estrogen-mediated E2F6 ceRNA network epigenetically and competitively inhibits microRNA-193a activity, promoting ovarian cancer stemness and tumorigenesis.

Hartman ML, Sztiller-Sikorska M, Czyz M
Whole-exome sequencing reveals novel genetic variants associated with diverse phenotypes of melanoma cells.
Mol Carcinog. 2019; 58(4):588-602 [PubMed] Related Publications
We have extensively studied the phenotypic heterogeneity of patient-derived melanoma cells. Here, whole-exome sequencing revealed novel variants of genes associated with the MAPK, NOTCH, Hippo, cell-cycle, senescence, and ubiquitin-dependent pathways, which could contribute to the observed phenotypic diversity between cell lines. Focusing on mutations in the MAPK pathway-associated genes, we found BRAF (BRAF

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