Aberrant EZHIP Expression Drives Tumorigenesis in Osteosarcoma [RNA-Seq]

Osteosarcomas (OS) are aggressive bone tumors characterized by extensive structural variation, and rare recurrent oncogenic driver mutations. Here, we identify ectopic expression of the oncohistone-mimic EZHIP in more than 20% of patients, in two independent OS cohorts. Through gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we provide evidence that EZHIP expression is oncogenic, increasing the aggressive features of OS in vitro and in vivo. EZHIP-mediated epigenetic rewiring promotes reactivation of developmental transcriptional programs and stalled differentiation of mesenchymal progenitors, which are skewed towards smooth muscle commitment at the expense of other lineages. Our findings of EZHIP expression as a prevalent driver in OS provide new insights into pathogenic pathways and therapeutic alternatives for this debilitating cancer.