Enhancer of Zeste 2 as a marker of preneoplastic progression in the breast.

Amplification of the Polycomb group transcriptional repressor Enhancer of Zeste 2 (EZH2) occurs in various malignancies including breast cancer, where its overexpression is associated with poor outcome. We found that EZH2 is up-regulated in ductal carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal hyperplasia, and even morphologically normal breast epithelial cells from women who have an increased risk of breast cancer. This review discusses how EZH2 may promote neoplastic conversion and it surveys the evidence suggesting that EZH2 may offer a clinical tool to help identify patients at risk for developing breast cancer before precursor lesions are histologically evident.