[Expression of enhancer of zesle homolog 2 and phosphatase and tension homolog and its clinicopathological significance in benign and malignant lesion of gallbladder].

OBJECTIVE

To examine the expressive level of enhancer of zesle homolog 2 (EZH2) and phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN), and to explore its clinicopathological significance in benign and malignant lesion of gallbladder.

METHODS

EnVision immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expressive levels of EZH2 and PTEN in routinely paraffin-embedded sections in the resected specimens of gallbladder adenocarcinoma (n = 108), peritumoral tissues (n = 46), adenomatous polyp(n = 15), and chronic cholecystitis (n = 35).

RESULTS

The positive rate of EZH2 was significantly higher in gallbladder adenocarcinoma than that in peritumoral tissues (chi(2) = 24.49, P < 0.01), adenomatous polyp(chi(2) = 11.68, P < 0.01), and chronic cholecystitis (chi(2) = 31.62, P < 0.01). The benign lesions in the positive cases of EZH2 and (or) the negative ones of PTEN showed the moderately- or severely- atypical hyperplasia of gallbladder epithelium. The positive rate of PTEN was significantly lower in gallbladder adenocarcinoma than that in peritumoral tissues(n = 20.20, P < 0.01), adenomatous polyp(chi(2)=10.81, P<0.01), and chronic cholecystitis (n = 29.83, P < 0.01).The positive rates of EZH2 were significantly lower in the highly-differentiated adenocarcinoma, the maximal diameter of mass < 2 cm, non-metastasis of lymphnodes, and non-infiltration of regional tissues than those in the moderately or low-differentiated adenocarcinoma, the maximal diameter > or = 2 cm, metastasis of lymphnode, and infiltration of regional tissues (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). High inconsistency was found between the expression of EZH2 and PTEN in gallbladder adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Expression of EZH2 and/or PTEN might be important biological markers in the carcinogenesis, progression, biological behaviors and prognosis of gallbladder adenocarcinoma.