EZH2 and STAT6 expression profiles are correlated with colorectal cancer stage and prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) and STAT6 immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of clinical stages and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
The expression patterns were examined by immunohistochemistry in both tumor and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues of 119 CRC patients who underwent operation during the time period from 2002 to 2004.


RESULTS
The positive rates of EZH2 and STAT6 in CRC cases were 69.7% (83 of 119) and 60.5% (72 of 119), respectively, and there was significant difference when compared with tumor adjacent non-neoplastic tissues (P < 0.05). In all CRC cases, patients with EZH2-positive, or STAT6-positive expression had lower survival rates than those with EZH2-negative or STAT6-negative expression (P = 0.002 and P = 0.005, respectively). Co-expression of EZH2 and STAT6 showed significantly higher levels in CRC cases of high clinical TNM stages (P = 0.001), and the expression of STAT6 was also correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (P = 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that EZH2 expression was an independent prognostic indicator of CRC (P = 0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
EZH2 and STAT6 expressions have significant values in distinguishing clinical stages of CRC and predicting the prognosis of the patients.
Wang
Cheng-Gang
CG
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Surgical Oncology Laboratory, People's Hospital, Beijing University, No. 11, South Xizhimen Street, Beijing 100044, China.
Ye
Ying-Jiang
YJ
Yuan
Jing
J
Liu
Fang-Fang
FF
Zhang
Hui
H
Wang
Shan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2