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Published on: August 19, 2021
EZH2 overexpression in head and neck cancer is related to lymph node metastasis
Julie C Nienstedt1, Cornelia Schroeder2,3, Till Clauditz2
1Department of Voice, Speech and Hearing Disorders, Center for Clinical Neurosciences, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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.
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