1. EZH2 overexpression in head and neck cancer is related to lymph node metastasis.
- Author
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Nienstedt JC, Schroeder C, Clauditz T, Simon R, Sauter G, Muenscher A, Blessmann M, Hanken H, and Pflug C
- Subjects
- Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell mortality, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Head and Neck Neoplasms mortality, Head and Neck Neoplasms pathology, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Prognosis, Tissue Array Analysis, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell metabolism, Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein metabolism, Head and Neck Neoplasms metabolism, Lymphatic Metastasis
- Abstract
Background: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2, plays an important role in tumor development and progression by interacting with histone and non-histone proteins. EZH2 represents a putative therapeutic target and has been suggested as a prognostic marker in several cancer types., Material and Methods: This study investigates the prognostic relevance of immunohistochemical EZH2 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Tissue microarray sections with 667 cancers of oral cavity, oro- and hypopharynx and larynx were analyzed for EZH2 expression., Results: Nuclear EZH2 staining was recorded in 322 (81.8%) of 394 cases. Staining was weak in 33 (10.2%), moderate in 128 (39.6%), and strong in 103 (32.0%) cancers. The prevalence of EZH2 expression in tumors of the oral cavity and the orohypopharynx was higher as compared to cancers of the larynx (P = .0023). EZH2 expression was correlated to presence of lymph node metastasis (P = .0089) but was unrelated to histological grade, tumor stage, surgical margin, or distant metastasis. EZH2 expression had no impact on patient survival., Conclusion: The high prevalence of EZH2 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma stresses its capability as a therapeutic target., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2018
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