Open AccessOncogenic roles of enhancer of zeste homolog 1/2 in hematological malignancies
Author(s) -
Nakagawa Makoto,
Kitabayashi Issay
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.13655
Subject(s) - ezh2 , prc2 , carcinogenesis , biology , enhancer , cancer research , epigenetics , methyltransferase , histone methyltransferase , histone , oncogene , polycomb group proteins , embryonic stem cell , gene , genetics , gene expression , methylation , repressor , cell cycle
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins regulate the expression of target genes by modulating histone modifications and are representative epigenetic regulators that maintain the stemness of embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells. Histone methyltransferases enhancer of zeste homolog 1 and 2 ( EZH 1/2), which are subunits of polycomb repressive complexes ( PRC ), are recurrently mutated or highly expressed in many hematological malignancies. EZH 2 has a dual function in tumorigenesis as an oncogene and tumor suppressor gene, and targeting PRC 2, in particular EZH 1/2, for anticancer therapy has been extensively developed in the clinical setting. Here, we review the oncogenic function of EZH 1/2 and introduce new therapeutic drugs targeting these enzymes.