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EZH2 and MMSET Were Identified as Potentially Useful Therapeutic Targets in Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma
Hirotaka Nakayama1, Kae Kawachi2, Nobuyasu Suganuma3
1Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan hirnak74@gmail.com.
Background/Aim:
Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare malignancy, which is often triple-negative for the hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and thus, does not benefit from targeted therapy. In this study, we examined the expression of methylation and demethylation enzymes by immunostaining MBC and the adjacent normal tissues or triple-negative ductal carcinoma (TNDC), and identified alterations that may be used as therapeutic targets.
Materials And Methods:
We retrospectively studied surgical specimens from 15 patients who underwent surgery for MBC at Kanagawa Cancer Center between 2005 and 2016, and similarly from 14 patients with TNDC. The frequencies of high methylation/demethylation enzyme expression were compared among them.
Results:
The frequencies of high enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and multiple myeloma SET domain (MMSET) expression were significantly higher in both MBC and TNDC than in normal tissue.
Conclusion:
EZH2 and MMSET may be useful therapeutic targets in MBC.
Insights
Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) and triple-negative ductal carcinoma (TNDC) show high expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and multiple myeloma SET domain (MMSET). These enzymes may represent novel therapeutic targets for these rare breast cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare, aggressive cancer.
- MBC is often triple-negative, lacking targets for standard therapies.
- Identifying novel therapeutic targets is crucial for MBC treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of methylation and demethylation enzymes in MBC.
- To compare enzyme expression between MBC, triple-negative ductal carcinoma (TNDC), and normal breast tissue.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for MBC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of surgical specimens from 15 MBC and 14 TNDC patients.
- Immunostaining to assess the expression of methylation and demethylation enzymes.
- Comparison of enzyme expression frequencies between cancer types and normal tissue.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher frequencies of high enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression were observed in both MBC and TNDC compared to normal tissue.
- Significantly higher frequencies of high multiple myeloma SET domain (MMSET) expression were observed in both MBC and TNDC compared to normal tissue.
Conclusions:
- EZH2 and MMSET are upregulated in both MBC and TNDC.
- EZH2 and MMSET represent promising therapeutic targets for metaplastic breast carcinoma.
- Further research into targeting EZH2 and MMSET in MBC is warranted.
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