Cited by 149Epigenetics and DNA MethylationCancer Cells and MetastasisMechanisms of cancer metastasis

EZH2-H3K27me3 mediated KRT14 upregulation promotes TNBC peritoneal metastasis

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Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis and adverse clinical outcomes among all breast cancer subtypes as there is no available targeted therapy. Overexpression of Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been shown to correlate with TNBC's poor prognosis, but the contribution of EZH2 catalytic (H3K27me3) versus non-catalytic EZH2 (NC-EZH2) function in TNBC progression remains elusive. We reveal that selective hyper-activation of functional EZH2 (H3K27me3) over NC-EZH2 alters TNBC metastatic landscape and fosters its peritoneal metastasis, particularly splenic. Instead of H3K27me3-mediated repression of gene expression; here, it promotes KRT14 transcription by attenuating binding of repressor SP1 to its promoter. Further, KRT14 loss significantly reduces TNBC migration, invasion, and peritoneal metastasis. Consistently, human TNBC metastasis displays positive correlation between H3K27me3 and KRT14 levels. Finally, EZH2 knockdown or H3K27me3 inhibition by EPZ6438 reduces TNBC peritoneal metastasis. Altogether, our preclinical findings suggest a rationale for targeting TNBC with EZH2 inhibitors.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41467-022-35059-x

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  • Dysregulation of the enzymatic balance can result in persistent epigenetic alterations, providing a mechanistic foundation for maladaptive transcriptional programs associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression.

    “Dysregulation of this enzymatic balance can therefore result in persistent epigenetic alterations, providing a mechanistic foundation for maladaptive transcriptional programs associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression (Verma et al., 2022).”

    From Histone modifications and depression: epigenetic mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and translational outlook (2026) · cites this paper as Verma et al., 2022

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes EZH2-mediated histone methylation and gene regulation, and the Discussion (page unavailable) reports altered H3K27me3 and KRT14 expression in triple-negative breast cancer. These passages support an epigenetic link to transcription, but not the claimed persistent effects of an enzymatic imbalance or a mechanism in stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Repressive marks such as H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 are strongly associated with transcriptional silencing and have been implicated in stress-induced depressive phenotypes.

    “Repressive marks such as H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 are particularly relevant, as they are strongly associated with transcriptional silencing and have been implicated in stress-induced depressive phenotypes (Verma et al., 2022).”

    From Histone modifications and depression: epigenetic mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and translational outlook (2026) · cites this paper as Verma et al., 2022

    The Introduction and Results describe H3K27me3 as a classical transcriptional repressor, supporting that part of the claim, while the Results report an exception: it promotes KRT14 transcription in the breast-cancer cells studied. Our copy does not support the claim about H3K9me3 or stress-induced depressive phenotypes; searches for those terms returned no relevant passage. The indexed passages provide section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Methylation contributes to transcriptional regulation, with H3K4me3 as an activating mark and H3K27me3 as a repressive mark.

    “Although methylation also contributes to transcriptional regulation (e.g., H3K4me3 as an activating mark and H3K27me3 as a repressive mark) (Verma et al., 2022), acetylation provides a rapid and reversible mechanism particularly relevant for neural activity and stress-related gene expression.”

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [22]Verma A, et al Epigenetic modulator EZH2 governs CSC properties and alters metastatic cascade. in Cancer Medicine. (Wiley 111 River St, Hoboken, NJ USA) 07030–5774 (2018).

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Authors
Verma, A., Singh, A., Singh, M. P., Nengroo, M. A., Saini, K. K., Satrusal, S. R., Khan, M. A., Chaturvedi, P., Sinha, A., Meena, S., Singh, A. K., & Datta, D.
Affiliations
Central Drug Research Institute (IN)
Corresponding author
Datta, Dipak
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2022-11-29
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
7344-7344
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4310639035
Cited by
148
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 21 · 2021: 1
FWCI
9.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (HCP40)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mechanisms of cancer metastasis
Keywords
triple-negative breast cancer, EZH2, H3K27me3, keratin 14, peritoneal carcinomatosis, splenic metastasis, Sp1, transcriptional activation, tumor cell migration and invasion, EZH2 inhibitors
MeSH terms
Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein, Histones, Humans, Peritoneal Neoplasms, Up-Regulation, Keratin-14, Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms

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