Significance of EZH2 and BMI-1 Protein Expression in Carcinogenesis of Colon Serrated Adenoma

Objective: To observe the significance of EZH2 and BMI-1 protein expression in the carcinogenesis process of colon serrated adenoma (SSA/P). Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological characteristics of normal tissues, hyperplastic polyp (HP), SSA/P and colon cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of EZH2 and BMI-1 protein. The relative expression of EZH2 and BMI-1 was detected by qRT-PCR. Results: Compared with normal tissues, HP and colon cancer tissues, SSA/P showed serrated glandular hyperplasia, glandular dilatation, and deep nuclear staining, which had certain atypia. The positive expression rates of EZH2 and BMI-1 protein were 53.3% and 56%, which were close to those of colon cancer (66.7% and 76.6%) and higher than those of normal group and HP (16% and 8%, P < 0.05). The relative expression of EZH2 and BMI-1 in SSA/P tissue was significantly higher than that in normal group and HP, but lower than that in carcinogenesis group (P<0.05). Conclusion: EZH2 and BMI-1 play an important role in the carcinogenesis of colon serrated adenoma, and can be used as the primary screening index before carcinogenesis.