Abstract:

Objective    To investigate expressions of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) genes in renal clear cell carcinoma and their clinical significances. Methods     Expressions of EZH2 and CTGF mRNA and proteins were analyzed in 50 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma and adjacent normal renal tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.  Results    Expression of EZH2 was higher in renal clear cell carcinoma compared with normal renal tissues(P<0.01), and high expression of EZH2 was significantly associated with the clinical stage (P<0.05). On the contrary, expression of CTGF was lower in renal clear cell carcinoma compared with normal renal tissues(P<0.01), and low expression of CTGF was significantly associated with the clinical stage(P<0.05). There was no significant correlation of EZH2 and CTGF expressions with age, gender or pathological differentiation(P>0.05).  Conclusions     EZH2 and CTGF could play important roles in the development and progression of renal clear cell carcinoma. EZH2 might be used as a potential genetic therapeutic target of renal clear cell carcinoma．

Key words: Renal clear cell carcinoma；  Enhancer of zeste homolog 2; Connective tissue growth factor; Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; Immunohistochemistry