HNF1B, EZH2 and ECI2 in prostate carcinoma. Molecular, immunohistochemical and clinico-pathological study

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 1;10(1):14365. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71427-7.

Abstract

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 beta (HNF1B) is a tissue specific transcription factor, which seems to play an important role in the carcinogenesis of several tumors. In our study we focused on analyzing HNF1B in prostate carcinoma (PC) and adenomyomatous hyperplasia (AH), as well as its possible relation to the upstream gene EZH2 and downstream gene ECI2. The results of our study showed that on an immunohistochemical level, the expression of HNF1B was low in PC, did not differ between PC and AH, and did not correlate with any clinical outcomes. In PC, mutations of HNF1B gene were rare, but the methylation of its promotor was a common finding and was positively correlated with Gleason score and stage. The relationship between HNF1B and EZH2/ECI2 was equivocal, but EZH2 and ECI2 were positively correlated on both mRNA and protein level. The expression of EZH2 was associated with poor prognosis. ECI2 did not correlate with any clinical outcomes. Our results support the oncosuppressive role of HNF1B in PC, which may be silenced by promotor methylation and other mechanisms, but not by gene mutation. The high expression of EZH2 (especially) and ECI2 in PC seems to be a potential therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • DNA Methylation
  • Dodecenoyl-CoA Isomerase / genetics
  • Dodecenoyl-CoA Isomerase / metabolism*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta / genetics
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / genetics
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics

Substances

  • HNF1B protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Dodecenoyl-CoA Isomerase
  • ECI2 protein, human