痰标本p16和MGMT基因甲基化对肺癌的诊断价值

目的：分析肺癌患者痰标本中p16和MGMT基因启动子区甲基化的改变情况,评价该指标作为肺癌辅助诊断分子标志物的价值。方法：运用甲基化特异性PCR技术,检测77例原发性肺癌患者痰标本和部分对应肿瘤组织(53例),以及30例正常对照者痰标本中p16和MGMT基因启动子区域的甲基化改变。结果：49例(63．6%)肺癌患者痰标本中检测到了pi6基因异常甲基化,34例(44．2%)检测到了MGMT基因异常甲基化,77例患者痰标本中2个基因中至少有1个基因出现甲基化为64例(83．1%),对肿瘤的检出灵敏度较高。长期吸烟史是影响肺鳞状细胞癌痰标本p16(P=0．001)基因启动子区甲基化的因素。随TNM分期增高,肺鳞状细胞癌患者痰标本中p16基因甲基化比例增高(P=0．021)；随TNM分期增高,肺腺癌患者痰标本MGMT基因甲基化比例增高(P=0．023)。对照组正常人痰液标本未发现p16和MGMT基因启动子区甲基化。结论：痰标本中p16和MGMT基因甲基化是临床肺癌辅助诊断的有效生物标志物之一。     

染色体3p区抑癌基因在非小细胞肺癌中的甲基化状况与临床意义

背景与目的 DNA甲基化是表观遗传学的一种调控机制,染色体3p区等位基因缺失是肺癌发生中较频繁和早期的事件之一。检测染色体3p区5个典型抑癌基因DLEC1、RASSF1A、hMLH1、RARβ和FHIT在非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)中的甲基化状况,分析其临床意义。方法取78例NSCLC患者术中癌组织及相应正常肺组织标本,采用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应(methylation specific PCR,MSP)检测基因启动子区甲基化状况,RT-PCR和免疫组化检测DLEC1基因表达。结果 78例NSCLC组织中,DLEC1、RASSF1A、RARβ和hMLH1甲基化频率分别为41.03%、39.74%、30.77%和16.67%,与正常组织相比差异均具有统计学意义。FHIT基因在癌组织和正常组织均无甲基化。DLEC1甲基化与患者临床分期(P=0.011)和淋巴结转移相关(P=0.019),而RASSF1A、RARβ、hMLH1基因甲基化以及平均甲基化指数与临床病理特征无关联。56.41%(44/78)的NSCLC组织中发现DLEC1基因表达下调或缺失,且与启动子甲基化有关。结论 3p区抑癌基因甲基化是NSCLC发生中的重要分子事件,可能作为NSCLC早期诊断的潜在生物标记,新型抑癌基因DLEC1失活与启动子高甲基化有关。     

FHIT和p16基因甲基化与肺癌的发生

背景与目的:探讨FHIT和p16基因甲基化与肺癌发生之间的关系. 材料与方法:采用甲基化特异性PCR检测59例原发性肺癌组织,相对应的32例正常组织及11例支气管鳞状化生组织中FHIT基因、p16基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状况.结果:肺癌组织和正常肺组织中的FHIT基因甲基化率分别为37.3%(22/59)、0.0%(0/32),两组间的差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);支气管鳞状化生组织FHIT基因甲基化阳性率为18.1%(2/11).肺癌组织和正常肺组织中的p16基因甲基化率分别为50.8%(30/59)、0.0%(0/32),两组间的差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01);支气管鳞状化生组织p16基因甲基化阳性率为18.1%(2/11).肺癌患者吸烟组中FHIT、p16基因甲基化联合检测的阳性率为90.6%(29/32),与非吸烟组(33.3%.9/27)相比较,其差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论: FHIT基因和p16基因启动子区甲基化可能与肺癌的发生有关.     

NSCLC患者血浆p16和MGMT基因甲基化检测及临床意义

目的：检测非小细胞肺癌（non—small cell lung cancer，NSCLC）患者外周血血浆中p16基因、O^6-甲基乌嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶（O^6-methylguanine—DNA methyhransferase，MGMT）基因启动子的甲基化状态，探讨p16、MGMT基因启动子的异常甲基化在NSCLC筛查及早期诊断中的意义。方法：利用巢式甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应法检测NSCLC患者外周血血浆p16、MGMT基因启动子的甲基化状态。结果：65例NSCLC血浆样品中分别发现19例（29．23％）p16基因启动子异常甲基化和16例（24．62％）MGMT基因启动子异常甲基化，45例正常对照血浆组未检测到p16、MGMT基因启动子的异常甲基化（P〈0．05），血浆中两基因甲基化检出率与NSCLC的分型及临床分期无明显相关性（P〉0．05）。结论：利用巢式甲基化特异性PCR法检测外周血血浆中p16、MGMT基因启动子的甲基化，可为NSCLC的筛查、早期诊断及预后判断提供有价值的信息。     

结直肠癌中 RASSF1A 启动子甲基化与Cyclin D1和P53表达的关系

目的： 检测结直肠癌组织中Ras相关区域家族1A（ras-association domain family 1A, RASSF1A )基因启动子甲基化以及Cyclin D1和P53蛋白的表达,分析它们与结直肠癌临床病理特征的关系。 方法： 收集2008年8月至2009年8月长海医院病理科37例结直肠癌组织和14例癌旁组织(癌灶边缘5 cm以外组织）标本。甲基化特异性PCR（methylation-specific PCR,MSP）检测结直肠癌组织中 RASSF1A 基因启动子的甲基化,免疫组织化学法检测结直肠癌组织中 Cyclin D1和P53蛋白的表达,分析 RASSF1A 启动子甲基化、Cyclin D1和P53表达的关联性以及三者与结直肠癌临床病理特征的相关性。 结果： 37例结直肠癌组织中 RASSF1A 启动子甲基化有23例（62.16%）,14例癌旁组织中 RASSF1A 启动子甲基化有12例（85.71%）;37例癌组织中Cyclin D1阳性14例（37.84%）、P53阳性15例（40.54%）,14例癌旁组织中Cyclin D1和p53表达均为阴性。直肠癌组织中 RASSF1A 启动子甲基化阳性率高于结肠癌（P<0.05）。结直肠癌患者年龄与Cyclin D1表达呈负相关（P<005）,淋巴结转移与P53表达呈正相关（P<0.05）。结直肠癌组织中 RASSF1A 启动子甲基化与Cyclin D1和P53的表达无相关性。 结论： RASSF1A 启动子甲基化、Cyclin D1和P53蛋白表达三者的联合检测对研究结直肠癌的发生、发展有一定意义。     

胃癌患者FHIT、hMLH1、p16、RAR-beta、Reprimo和TIMP3基因的甲基化研究

目的 探究人脆性组氨酸三联体(FHIT)基因、人mut1同源物(hMLH1)基因、p16基因、维甲酸受体(RAR)-beta(RAR-beta)基因、Reprimo基因和基质金属蛋白酶抑制因子3(TIMP3)基因在胃癌及相应的癌旁对照组织中甲基化状态。方法 采用亚硫酸氢钠测序法检测42例临床手术切除的胃癌标本及42例相应癌旁组织标本中FHIT基因、hMLH1基因、p16基因、RAR-beta基因、Reprimo基因和TIMP3基因甲基化水平。结果 胃癌组织及相应癌旁组织之间各基因的平均甲基化率分别为:FHIT基因(1.50%,1.36%)、hMLH1基因(4.77%,0.48%)、p16基因(9.63%,10.36%)、RAR-beta基因(4.75%,4.17%)、Reprimo基因(9.71%,3.76%)与TIMP3基因(18.34%,14.06%)。癌旁对照组织与胃癌组织的Reprimo基因的平均甲基化率具有统计学差异(P＜0.05)。组织分化程度不同的胃癌患者Reprimo基因启动子甲基化率存在统计学差异(P＜0.05)。结论 胃癌中Reprimo基因启动子区胞嘧啶鸟嘌呤二核苷酸岛中存在甲基化现象。Reprimo基因的高甲基化率可以作为胃癌的潜在生物标记物,以便早期发现胃癌。     

肝细胞癌多基因甲基化异常及其临床意义

目的 探讨肝细胞癌中多基因甲基化异常的发生率,研究肝细胞癌中多基因甲基化异常的临床意义.方法 收集60例肝细胞癌及相应的癌旁组织、16例肝炎后肝硬化组织、5例慢性肝炎和5例正常肝组织,筛选消化道肿瘤中APC、RASSF1A、p16、GSTP1、MGMT、DAPK、SOCS-1和RIZ18个甲基化异常频率高的肿瘤抑制基因,应用甲基化特异件聚合酶链反应(MSP)检测8个肿瘤抑制基因在所有标本中的甲基化状态.比较不同基因甲基化与非甲基化肝细胞癌患者的临床病理特征和生存情况.结果 肝细胞癌组织中,RASSF1A、APC、GSTP1、p16、RIZ1和MGMT基因的甲基化率分别为95.0%、90.0%、73.3%、65.0%、61.6%和60.0%,均高于相应的癌旁组织(均P＜0.05);癌旁组织中,MGMT、GSTP1和RIZ1基因的甲基化率分别为41.6%、40.0%和25.0%,均高于肝硬化组织(均P＜0.05).p16基因甲基化的肝细胞癌患者的平均年龄大于非甲基化者;巨块性肝细胞癌中,MGMT基因甲基化者的比例高于非甲基化者;MGMT基基甲基化者的无瘤生存期短于非甲基化者.结论 不同基因在肝细胞癌、癌旁和肝硬化组织中的甲皋化率差异显示了肝细胞癌发生中渐进的表观遗传学改变;GSTP1、RIZ1和MGMT基因的甲基化异常具有肿瘤风险评估和早期诊断价值,而MGMT基因的甲基化异常同时具有预后评估价值.     

肺癌患者组织样品中p16基因的异常甲基化

目的 分析肺癌患者组织样品中p16基因启动子区域异常甲基化的改变情况,评价该指标作为辅助临床诊断的分子标记物的价值。方法 运用甲基化特异性PCR技术,检测51例原发性肺癌患者的肿瘤组织、外周血血浆和痰标本中p16基因启动子区域的异常甲基化改变。结果 在43例肿瘤组织、36例血浆和39例痰标本中检测到了p16基因异常甲基化。凡在肿瘤组织检出p16基因甲基化阳性的病例,其血浆和(或)痰标本也为阳性;而肿瘤组织p16基因甲基化阴性的病例,其血浆和痰标本也为阴性。将血浆和痰标本的p16甲基化分析与痰细胞学检查相结合,可以发现92．2％的肺癌病例。结论 利用半巢式甲基化特异性PCR进行的血浆和痰标本p16基因甲基化分析,有可能成为辅助肺癌诊断的分子生物学指标。     

96.非小细胞肺癌病人痰标本p16和MGMT基因的异常甲基化

痰脱落细胞学检查以其方便、无创的特点成为目前诊断肺癌的最基本手段之一,然而它的敏感性比较差。近年来分子肿瘤学的理论和技术进展为我们提供了利用分子病理学标志物发现早期肺癌的可能。研究表明,某些基因的异常甲基化是肺癌中常见的分子水平改变;其中包括p16INK4a(p16)和O6甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶（O6-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase,MGMT)。在这项研究中,我们从肺癌病人的痰标本脱落细胞中分离制备DNA,检测了p16和MGMT这两个基因的启动子区的甲基化状态。采用甲基化特异性PCR（methylation-specific PCR,MSP)的方法,我们对71例非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC）病人的痰标本进行了分析。所有被检NSCLC病人均有明确的组织病理学诊断,其中,肺鳞癌39例,肺腺癌25例,腺鳞癌7例。这71例病人的痰标本仅有31例（43.6％）被细胞学检查诊断为癌。我们的分析资料显示：在71例痰标本中p16基因的高甲基化检出率为83．1％（59/71）,MGMT的高甲基化检出率为59.2％（42／71）。在被测痰细胞DNA中,这两个基因（其中一个或两者）的启动子区异常甲基化的综合检出率高达90．1%（64／71）;而且与相应肿瘤组织中这两个基因的甲基化状态存在很好的符合率。这顶研究结果表明,利用MSP技术检查痰脱落细胞DNA中p16和MGMT两基因的异常甲基化是一项敏感、无创、易行的方法。它将有助于非小细胞肺癌早期发现,以及肺癌高危人群的筛查。     

肝癌患者血浆RASSF1A与APC基因甲基化诊断和预后价值分析

目的:探讨肝癌患者血浆中抑癌基因RASSF1A与APC启动子区域甲基化与诊断及生存期预后的关系。方法:收集102例肝癌、80例肝硬化及100名健康人血浆,提取DNA,采用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应法检测RASSF1A与APC基因启动子区域甲基化状态,随访其生存期并分析基因甲基化状态与肝癌诊断及预后的关系。结果:RASSF1A基因启动子区域甲基化阳性率在肝癌和肝硬化血浆中分别为51.96%(53/102)和15.00%(12/80),差异有统计学意义,χ2=26.677,P=0.000;APC基因启动子区域甲基化阳性率在肝癌和肝硬化血浆中分别为47.06%(48/102)和22.50%(18/80),差异有统计学意义,χ2=11.700,P=0.001。102例肝癌患者中,44例(43.14%)AFP检测为阳性;58例AFP阴性的患者中,RASSF1A基因和APC基因启动子区域甲基化的阳性率分别为53.45%(31/58)和46.55%(27/58)。RASSF1A基因启动子区域甲基化阳性组与阴性组生存期比较,差异有统计学意义,P=0.011;而APC基因阳性组与阴性组生存期比较,差异无统计学意义,P=0.175。Cox多因素分析结果显示,AFP、临床分期、治疗方式及门静脉瘤栓有无为肝癌独立预后因子,RASSF1A和APC基因同时甲基化是肝癌的独立预后因子,P=0.019。结论:RASSF1A与APC基因启动子区域甲基化对肝癌、特别是AFP阴性肝癌的诊断有帮助,RASSF1A和APC基因启动子区域同时甲基化可以作为评价肝癌生存期预后的独立预后因子。     

Frequent epigenetic inactivation of the RASSF1A tumour suppressor gene in testicular tumours and distinct methylation profiles of seminoma and nonseminoma testicular germ cell tumours

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are histologically heterogeneous neoplasms with variable malignant potential. Previously, we demonstrated frequent 3p allele loss in TGCTs, and recently we and others have shown that the 3p21.3 RASSF1A tumour suppressor gene (TSG) is frequently inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in a wide range of cancers including lung, breast, kidney and neuroblastoma. In order to investigate the role of epigenetic events in the pathogenesis of TGCTs, we analysed the promoter methylation status of RASSF1A and nine other genes that may be epigenetically inactivated in cancer (p16(INK4A), APC, MGMT, GSTP1, DAPK, CDH1, CDH13, RARbeta and FHIT) in 24 primary TGCTs (28 histologically distinct components). RASSF1A methylation was detected in four of 10 (40%) seminomas and 15 of 18 (83%) nonseminoma TGCT (NSTGCT) components (P=0.0346). None of the other nine candidate genes were methylated in seminomas, but MGMT (44%), APC (29%) and FHIT (29%) were frequently methylated in NSTGCTs. Furthermore, in two mixed germ cell tumours, the NSTGCT component for one demonstrated RASSF1A, APC and CDH13 promoter methylation, but the seminoma component was unmethylated for all genes analysed. In the second mixed germ cell tumour, the NSTGCT component was methylated for RASSF1A and MGMT, while the seminoma component was methylated only for RASSF1A. In all, 61% NSTGCT components but no seminoma samples demonstrated promoter methylation at two or more genes (P=0.0016). These findings are consistent with a multistep model for TGCT pathogenesis in which RASSF1A methylation occurs early in tumorigenesis and additional epigenetic events characterize progression from seminoma to NSTGCTs.     

Promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A and RUNX3 genes as an independent prognostic prediction marker in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancers

Aberrant methylation of promoter CpG islands is known to be a major inactivation mechanism of the tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes. Some published studies suggest a relationship to exist between the methylation status of several genes and the prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); hypermethylation of the specific genes may be expected to serve as a biomarker for the prognosis, after a curative resection of NSCLC. To determine the relationship between the methylation status of the tumor suppressor and the tumor-related genes, and the clinicopathologic characteristics, including the survival rate, in patients with NSCLC after a surgical resection, we studied methylation in 10 genes (DAPK, FHIT, H-cadherin, MGMT, p14, p16, RAR-beta, RASSF1A, RUNX3, and TIMP-3) in 101 NSCLC cases by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The methylation frequencies of the 10 genes examined in NSCLC were 26% for DAPK, 34% for FHIT, 26% for H-cadherin, 14% for MGMT, 8% for p14, 27% for p16, 38% for RAR-beta, 42% for RASSF1A, 25% for RUNX3, and 12% for TIMP-3. Clinicopathologically, the patients with all stages of disease who had positive RASSF1A, RUNX3, or H-cadherin methylation status were found to have a significantly shorter duration of survival, as compared with the patients with a negative methylation status for those genes (RASSF1A:P=0.023, RUNX3:P=0.035, H-cadherin:P=0.039) in univariate analysis. Thereafter, while limiting our examination to patients with stage I disease, the patients who had a positive RASSF1A or RUNX3 methylation status were found to have a significantly shorter duration of survival, in comparison to the patients with negative methyaltion status for each of those genes (RASSF1A:P=0.022, RUNX3:P<0.01) in univariate analysis. Next, the histological differences were recognized that the patients with RUNX3 methylation had a shorter duration of survival in adenocarcinomas (ACs) (P=0.045), in contrast to those with RASSF1A methylation who had a shorter duration of survival in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) (P=0.021). In multivariate analysis, both positive RASSF1A methylation status, and positive RUNX3 methylation status were found to be independent prognostic factors (RASSF1A:P=0.031, RUNX3:P=0.028), as was TNM stage (P=0.004) and pleural involvement (P=0.037). In conclusion, the hypermethylation of RASSF1A or RUNX3 gene is therefore a useful biomarker to predict the prognosis in NSCLC, particularly RASSF1A due to SCCs and RUNX3 due to ACs.     

Tumor-specific methylation in bronchial lavage for the early detection of non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify tumor-specific methylation in bronchial lavage for the early detection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by differentiating the age-related methylation from the tumor-specific methylation in NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-five NSCLC patients and 127 cancer-free subjects participated in this study. Aberrant methylation at the promoters of the p16, Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A), fragile histidine triad (FHIT), H-cadherin, and retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) genes were evaluated in the resected tumor tissues and bronchial lavage samples of NSCLC patients and in the bronchial lavage samples of cancer-free subjects by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of the 127 cancer-free samples, methylation was detected in 6% for p16, 13% for RARbeta, 3% for H-cadherin, 4% for RASSF1A, and 28% for FHIT. Hypermethylation of the p16, RARbeta, H-cadherin, and RASSF1A genes was not associated with patient age and smoking, whereas hypermethylation of the FHIT promoter occurred more frequently in older patients (P =.02) and was associated with exposure to tobacco smoke (P =.001). A strong correlation between age and smoking was found in patients with hypermethylation of the FHIT gene (r = 0.36; P =.03). A total of 68% of the bronchial lavage samples from the 85 NSCLC patients showed methylation of at least one of p16, RARbeta, H-cadherin, and RASSF1A genes. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that tumor-specific methylation of the p16, RASSF1A, H-cadherin, and RARbeta genes may be a valuable biomarker for the early detection of NSCLC in bronchial lavage, and that the age-related methylation of FHIT gene in the normal bronchial epithelium is related to the exposure to tobacco smoke.     

Characterization of a multiple epigenetic marker panel for lung cancer detection and risk assessment in plasma

BACKGROUND: Methylation patterns may be useful biomarkers of cancer detection and risk assessment. METHODS: The methylation status of 6 genes, including a candidate tumor suppressor gene (BLU), the cadherin 13 gene (CDH13), the fragile histidine triad gene (FHIT), the cell cycle control gene p16, the retinoic acid receptor beta gene (RARbeta), and the Ras association domain family 1 gene (RASSF1A), was examined in plasma samples, corresponding tumor tissues, and normal lung tissues from a group of 63 patients with lung cancer and in plasma samples from 36 cancer-free individuals. The detection rate of the p16 gene was validated in a test group of 20 patients with lung cancer. RESULTS: The concordance of methylation in tumor tissues and plasma samples was 86%, 87%, 80%, 75%, 76%, and 84% for the BLU, CDH13, FHIT, p16, RARbeta, and RASSF1A genes, respectively. The test group showed a similar concordance for p16 methylation detection. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio for having lung cancer was 10.204 for individuals with p16 methylation (P = .013) and 9.952 for individuals with RASSFIA methylation (P = .019). After several trial tests, the authors established that methylation for >/=2 of the 6 markers met the criterion for an elevated risk of cancer. Comparisons yielded a sensitivity of 73%, a specificity of 82%, and a concordance of 75% between the methylation patterns in tumor tissues and in corresponding plasma samples. The detection rate was relatively high in cigarette smokers with advanced squamous cell lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The current results indicated that multiple epigenetic markers in the plasma, especially the p16 and RASSF1A genes, can be used for lung cancer detection. This methylation marker panel should improve the detection of cancer or the risk assessment for lung cancer in combination with conventional diagnostic tools.     

Aberrant DNA methylation profiles of non-small cell lung cancers in a Korean population

We performed this study to investigate the aberrant methylation profile of the cancer-related genes in Korean non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that previously exhibited high frequencies of methylation in Western populations. The aberrant promoter methylation of eight genes (GSTP1, p16, FHIT, APC, RASSF1A, hMLH1, hMSH2, AGT) was determined by MSP in 99 surgically resected NSCLCs and their corresponding nonmalignant lung tissues. Methylation in the tumor samples was detected at 15% for GSTP1, 22% for p16, 34% for FHIT1, 48% for APC, 40% for RASSF1A, 18% for hMLH1, 8% for hMSH2 and 21% for AGT, whereas it occurred at lower frequencies in the corresponding nonmalignant lung tissues, particularly in the p16 (1%) and RASSF1A (1%) genes. These results suggest that the methylation profiles of NSCLCs in a Korean population are similar to those in Western populations.     

Aberrant promoter methylation profile of bladder cancer and its relationship to clinicopathological features.

We investigated the aberrant promoter methylation profile of bladder cancers and correlated the data with clinicopathological findings. The methylation status of 10 genes was determined in 98 surgically resected bladder cancers, and we calculated the median methylation index (MI), a reflection of the methylated fraction of the genes tested. Methylation frequencies of the genes tested in bladder cancers were 36% for CDH1, 35% for RASSF1A and APC, 29% for CDH13, 16% for FHIT, 15% for RAR beta, 11% for GSTP1, 7% for p16(INK4A), 4% for DAPK, and 2% for MGMT. Methylation of four of the individual genes (CDH1, RASSF1A, APC, and CDH13) and the MI were significantly correlated with several parameters of poor prognosis (tumor grade, growth pattern, muscle invasion, tumor stage, and ploidy pattern). Methylation of CDH1, FHIT, and a high MI were associated with shortened survival. CDH1 methylation positive status was independently associated with poor survival in multivariate analyses. Our results suggest that the methylation profile may be a potential new biomarker of risk prediction in bladder cancer.     

Aberrant Promoter Methylation Profile in Pleural Fluid DNA and Clinicopathological Factors in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genesin patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In samples from 34 lung patients with malignant pleuraleffusions, we used a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction to detect aberrant hypermethylation of thepromoters of the DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), p16INK4a, rasassociation domain family 1A (RASSF1A), apoptosis-related genes, death-associated protein kinase (DAPK),and retinoic acid receptor ß (RARß).There is no association between methylation status of five tumor suppressorgenes including MGMT, p16INK4a, RASSF1A, DAPK and RARß in pleural fluid DNA and clinicopathologicalparameters including clinical outcome. Aberrant promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes in pleuralfluid DNA could not be a valuable prognostic marker of NSCLC patients with malignant pleural effusion.     

Promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A, MGMT, and HIC-1 genes in benign and malignant colorectal tumors

Hypermethylation at the promoter region is an important epigenetic mechanism underlying the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and frequently occurs as an early event in the development of different types of cancer including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The aim of the present study is the detection of methylation status for some tumor suppressor genes including RASSF1A, MGMT, and HIC-1 in both cancerous and precancerous lesions of colorectal mucosa to evaluate the possibility of developing epigenetic biomarker for early detection of Egyptian CRC. Tissue biopsy was collected from 72 patients (36 CRC, 17 adenomatous polyps, and 19 ulcerative colitis), and in addition, adjacent normal-appearing tissues were collected as control. Promoter hypermethylation status for RSSAF1A, MGMT, and HIC-1 genes was detected after isolation of genomic DNA from the tissues samples using methylation-specific PCR technique. High frequency of methylation at MGMT, RASSFA, and HIC-1 was detected in CRC patients (25%, 47.2%, and 41.7% respectively). The highest methylation detected in adenomatous polyps patients was in MGMT gene (47.1%) followed by 35.3% for HIC-1 and only 5.9% for RASSF1A gene. HIC-1 gene exhibited highest frequency of methylation in ulcerative colitis patients (57.8%) whereas it was 26.3% for both RASSF1A and MGMT genes. A nonsignificant association was recorded between the methylation status in different genes examined with the clinicopathological factors except the association between methylation at RASSF1A gene with gender (p?=?0.005), and it was significant. In conclusion, aberrant hypermethylation at promoter region of RASSFA, MGMT, and HIC-1 genes is involved in Egyptian CRCs. Hypermethylation of MGMT and HIC-1 genes plays an important role in the initiation of disease especially ulcerative colitis–carcinoma pathway.     

Promoter methylation of p16INK4a, RASSF1A, and DAPK is frequent in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Promoter methylation is a common mechanism of inactivation of tumor suppressor genes in multiple tumor types. However, little is known about its role in the development of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland (ACC). In the current study, the authors investigated whether promoter methylation is common in ACC and whether it may influence ACC development. METHODS: The promoter methylation status of the genes p16(INK4a), RASSF1A, DAPK, and MGMT, which are important in cell growth regulation, apoptosis, and DNA repair, was determined in tissue sections of tumor samples from 60 patients with ACC using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The association between methylation status and patients' clinical and pathologic characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 60 tumors, DNA methylation of the p16(INK4a) promoter was detected in 28 tumors (47%); the respective values DNA methylation of the RASSF1A, DAPK, and MGMT promoters were 25 tumors (42%), 16 tumors (27%), and 4 tumors (7%), respectively. Forty-six tumors (77%) had DNA methylation in > or = 1 of the 4 promoters, 20 tumors (33%) had DNA methylation in > or = 2 promoters, 6 tumors (10%) had DNA methylation in > or = 3 promoters, and 1 tumor (2%) had DNA methylation in all 4 promoters. RASSF1A promoter methylation was more frequent in high-grade tumors than in low-grade tumors (P = 0.009), in advanced-stage tumors (P = 0.008), and in tumors with metastasis (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Promoter methylation of p16(INK4a), RASSF1A, and DAPK was common in ACC, and it is possible that such methylation may influence the development of ACC. The high frequency of RASSF1A promoter methylation in high-grade tumors and in tumors with metastasis suggested a role for this gene in the progression of ACC.