title: The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 gene contributes to cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance in renal cell carcinoma cells.
abstract: The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) gene has been recently linked to human malignancies where it may serve as a new target for cancer therapy. Here, we analyzed EZH2 expression in primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) specimens and in nontumorous tissue samples from adult kidney. EZH2 transcripts were detectable in all RCC specimens examined. Expression levels were significantly higher in tumor tissue (p < or = 0.0001) than in samples from normal adult kidney. Moreover, inhibition of endogenous EZH2 expression in RCC cell lines by RNA interference (RNAi) led to reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in RCC cells. These data show that EZH2 is overexpressed in RCC. Furthermore, they indicate that the EZH2 gene plays a role for both the proliferation and the apoptosis resistance of RCC cells. Targeted inhibition of EZH2 could therefore represent a novel strategy to improve the therapeutic response of RCC.
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Center, Molecular Therapy of Virus-Associated Cancers (F065), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wagener
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bulkescher
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Crnković-Mertens
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoppe-Seyler
authors.forename: Hanswalter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zentgraf
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pritsch
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buse
authors.forename: Jesco
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfitzenmaier
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haferkamp
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hohenfellner
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoppe-Seyler
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2