EZH2 blockade by RNA interference inhibits growth of ovarian cancer by facilitating re-expression of p21waf1/cip1 and by inhibiting mutant p53

Abstract The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) methyltransferase is a transcriptional repressor. EZH2 is abnormally elevated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We demonstrated that EZH2 knockdown inhibited cell growth, activated apoptosis, and enhanced chemosensitivity. Further, silencing of EZH2 resulted in re-expression of p21 waf1/cip1 and down-regulation of mutant p53. Finally, EZH2 knockdown contributed to attenuated EOC growth in SCID mice.