EZH2 is a negative prognostic factor and exhibits pro-oncogenic activity in glioblastoma. Issue 2 (28th January 2015) - Zhang, Junxia
Highlights: EZH2 overexpression confers a poor prognosis of GBM patients. EZH2 is an independent prognostic factor in GBM patients. Repression of EZH2 induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. A feedback loop of EZH2 with β-catenin/TCF4 and STAT3 signaling exists in gliomas. Abstract: The identification of single or less genes based on mRNA expression as clinical diagnostic markers for glioblastoma (GBM) remains a challenge. Recent data have shown the potential oncogenic role and prognostic significance of EZH2 in several human cancers. However, the clinical signature and further mechanisms of EZH2 function in gliomagenesis are still poorly understood. In this study, we found that increased EZH2 expression was associated with tumor grade. High expression of EZH2 in GBM was determined to be a strong and independent predictor of short overall survival. Further, we screened EZH2 targets and associated genes in GBM. Repression of EZH2 induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. This event represents a positive feedback loop with β-catenin/TCF4 and STAT3 signaling. Taken together, EZH2 could be an independent prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target for GBM.