Gene Identified that Promotes Spreading of Breast Cancer

Researchers studying how breast cancer spreads have found that the EZH2 gene, which has been linked to the spread of prostate cancer, is present and functioning in malignant breast tumors.

Investigators at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA) used tissue microarray analysis to study 917 tumor samples from 280 patients. They reported in the September 19, 2003, online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that EZH2 protein levels were strongly associated with breast cancer aggressiveness.

First author Dr. Celina G. Kleer, assistant professor of pathology at the University of Michigan Medical School explained, "We found a strong association between EZH2 protein levels and patient outcome. Patients with higher levels had a shorter disease-free interval after surgery, lower overall survival, and a higher probability of death due to breast cancer.”

In addition to the retrospective study of tumor tissues, the investigators studied EZH2 gene function by using an adenovirus vector to insert an additional EZH2 gene into a line of breast cancer cells. They found that the additional EZH2 protein enabled the cancer cells to form colonies, an important step that helps the cancer become established outside of its original location. EZH2-enhanced cells successfully invaded cell membranes, while others did not.

Dr. Kleer said, "EZH2 appears to be a promising biomarker that could one day be used to help determine a patient's risk of cancer progression. For tens of thousands of women a year, that could mean a lot.”



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