NFATc1 cooperation with EZH2 hastens oncogenic activity in pancreatic cancer

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) belongs to the most devasting malignant diseases in humans. Detailed studies into the molecular background of PDAC revealed a central role for the oncogenic transcription factor NFATc1 in initiation of cancer stem cell features associated with chemoresistance and bad prognosis in PDAC. Growing evidence also implicates the histone methyltransferase EZH2 in pancreatic cancer plasticity and progression. Additional to its functions as a repressor protein EZH2 embodies the ability to act as a transcriptional co-activator depending on posttranslational phosphorylat…