High expression of H2A histone family member Z (H2A.Z) is a high-risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer and primary hepatocellular cancer.
To demonstrate the SPINLONG approach, we analyzed ChIP-seq data reporting PolII, estrogen receptor α (ERα), H3K4me3 and H2A.Z occupancy at five time points in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line after estradiol stimulus.
High expression of H2A.Z is ubiquitously detected in the progression of breast cancer, and is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and patient survival.
Also, immunohistochemical studies of breast cancer biopsies show that the presence of H2A.Z correlates highly with that of ERalpha, but is associated with high-grade ER-negative cancers.