Expression of EZH2 and P53 and their correlation in ovarian cancer tissues

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2020 Mar 1;13(3):456-464. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Previous researches have demonstrated that EZH2 expression is increased in many solid tumors and is closely related to the worse progression, transcriptional silence, distal metastasis, and differential inhibition of tumors. P53 can regulate many cells signaling pathways and play an important role in cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and cell senescence. However, there are few reports on the expression of EZH2 and p53 in ovarian cancer and their correlation with the ovarian cancer. The purpose is to elucidate the expression of EZH2 and p53 in ovarian cancer and to study the relationship of EZH2 and p53 with the clinical parameters of ovarian cancer. In this study, both mRNA and protein level of EZH2 in ovarian cancer group was significantly higher than that in borderline, benign, and normal group; while the mRNA and protein level of p53 was significantly lower than that in borderline, benign, and normal group. The expression of EZH2 protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm and nucleus, while mutated p53 protein was mainly located in the nucleus. Furthermore, the expression of EZH2 is closely related to the FIGO stage and histological grade of ovarian cancer. EZH2 and P53 are closely related to the occurrence of ovarian cancer. We speculate that EZH2 may promote the development of ovarian cancer by inhibiting the expression of p53, suggesting that p53 may be the target gene of EZH2.

Keywords: EZH2; clinical stages; immunohistochemical; ovarian cancer; p53.