PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - KATSUHIKO MASUDO
AU  - NOBUYASU SUGANUMA
AU  - HIROTAKA NAKAYAMA
AU  - TAKASHI OSHIMA
AU  - YASUSHI RINO
AU  - HIROYUKI IWASAKI
AU  - KENICHI MATSUZU
AU  - KIMINORI SUGINO
AU  - KOICHI ITO
AU  - TETSUO KONDO
AU  - YOSHIYASU NAKAMURA
AU  - MITSUYO YOSHIHARA
AU  - MUNETAKA MASUDA
AU  - YOHEI MIYAGI
TI  - EZH2 Overexpression as a Useful Prognostic Marker for Aggressive Behaviour in Thyroid Cancer
DP  - 2018 Jan 01
TA  - In Vivo
PG  - 25--31
VI  - 32
IP  - 1
4099  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/32/1/25.short
4100  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/32/1/25.full
SO  - In Vivo2018 Jan 01; 32
AB  - Background/Aim: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a member of the polycomb group of genes, which are key factors in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. EZH2 is overexpressed in many malignancies. We analyzed EZH2 protein expression levels in different histological subtypes of thyroid cancer to examine its utility as a prognostic factor. Materials and Methods: We examined EZH2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from 67 cases of poorly differentiated (PDTC) and 48 cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), and in samples of adjacent normal and differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We examined differences in expression of EZH2 among various histological types of thyroid cancer, and the relationship between EZH2 expression and patient outcome. Results: EZH2 protein was expressed in PDTC and ATC, but not in normal thyroid gland or DTC. EZH-positivity increased in the order of DTC, PDTC, and ATC (p<0.01). Higher EZH2 expression correlated with poorer survival in PDTC (p=0.004), and a similar but non-significant trend was observed in ATC (p=0.166). Multivariate analysis identified EZH2 as an independent prognostic factor similar to metastatic status in the Japanese Society of Thyroid Surgery (JSTS) classification of PDTC. Conclusion: EZH2 overexpression is associated with malignant potential in thyroid cancer, and may thus be a useful prognostic marker of aggressive thyroid cancer.