Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the third most common female cancer in Taiwan. EZH2 plays an important role in cancer development through transcriptional repression by chromatin remodeling. However, the expression of EZH2 in breast cancer is highly correlated with tumorigenesis, and patient survival is not matched to TNBC. Furthermore, it has not been determined if specific EZH2 genetic variants are associated with breast cancer risk. In this paper, we evaluated the survival of different types of breast cancer. The results indicated that a lower expression of EZH2 led to poor survival of TNBC patients. Therefore, we aimed at studying the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of EZH2 and susceptibility to TNBC in Taiwan. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of EZH2 (rs6950683, rs2302427, rs3757441, and rs41277434) were analyzed by real-time PCR genotyping in 176 patients with TNBC and 1000 cancer-free controls. The results showed that TNBC patients under 60 years old who carried a TC or CC genotype at EZH2 rs6950683 and re3757441 had a tumor size of 20 mm or smaller (T1). Thus, this study is the first to examine the age and mutant genes associated with EZH2 SNPs in TNBC progression and development in Taiwan.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading malignancy associated with cancer-related deaths worldwide. Many studies have indicated that mucin (MUC) expression plays an important role in cancer metastasis and recurrence. MUC6 expression is observed in gastric and oncocytic phenotypes and may play an important role during cancer progression. We found the level of MUC6 is lower in HCC patients but did not affect the survival of HCC patients. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the combined effect of MUC6 polymorphisms and exposure to environmental carcinogens on the susceptibility to and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MUC6 (rs61869016, rs6597947, and rs7481521) from 1197 healthy controls and 423 HCC patients were analyzed using real-time PCR. After adjusting for other co-variants, we found that carrying a CC genotype at MUC6 rs61869016 had a lower risk of developing HCC than wildtype carriers. Moreover, patients with a smoking habit who carried the C allele of rs61869016 and T allele of rs7481521 had a higher (B or C) Child-Pugh score than other genotypes, suggesting significant functional compromise and decompensated disease. Therefore, our findings suggest that genetic variations in MUC6 may corelate to HCC and indicate progression in HCC patients.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are generally associated with tobacco consumption, alcohol abuse or both. Mucins (MUCs) are high‐molecular‐weight glycoproteins produced by many epithelial tissues. Many studies have indicated that MUCs play an important role in cancer metastasis. MUC6 expression has been observed in gastric and oncocytic phenotypes and plays an important role during cancer progression. We found that levels of MUC6 are lower in Asian HNCC patients and affect the disease‐free survival of HNCC patients. Next, we investigated the combined effect of MUC6 polymorphisms and exposure to environmental carcinogens on the susceptibility to and clinicopathological characteristics of HNCC. Three single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MUC6 (rs7481521, rs6597947 and rs61869016) were analysed using real‐time PCR. After adjusting for other co‐variants, we found that carrying a CC genotype at MUC6 rs6597947 led to a lower risk of developing oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) than wild‐type carriers among non‐betel‐quid chewers. Moreover, male oral cancer patients who carried the AA + CC genotype at MUC6 rs6597947 had a lower risk of lymph node metastasis than other genotypes, suggesting a significant functional compromise and decompensated disease. Therefore, our findings suggest that genetic variations in MUC6 may correlate to OSCC and indicate the progression in OSCC patients.