非小细胞肺癌组织中3p区抑癌基因启动子的甲基化

目的：探讨3p位点上3个抑癌基因RASSF1α、RAR-β和FHIT启动子甲基化在非小细胞肺癌（non-smallcelllungcancer．NSCLC）组织中的作用。方法：应用甲基化特异的PCR（methyl-specific PCR,MSP）和RTPCR方法分别测定53例NSCLC组织中RASSF1α、RAR-β和FHIT的甲基化率与转录水平。结果：NSCLC癌组织和癌旁组织中的甲基化率分别是FHIT为53％和8％,RAR-β为42％和6％,RASSF1α为57％和9％;FHIT、RASSF1α的甲基化率在吸烟指数〉400年支组高于≤400年支组（P值分别为0．004与0．008）;FHIT、RASSF1α的甲基化率Ⅱ期高于Ⅰ期（P值分别为0．016与0．008）,Ⅲ期高于Ⅱ期（P值分别为0．033与0．029）。结论：3P位点RASSF1α、RAR-β和FHIT基因甲基化的发生与NSCLC的病理生理密切相关,而启动子CpG岛甲基化是导致转录沉默的重要机制。     

食管鳞癌抑癌基因甲基化表达的相关性分析

[目的]研究食管鳞癌肿瘤组织及外周血多基因甲基化状态,以及不同基因甲基化的相关性。[方法]应用real-time MSP技术对76例食管鳞癌患者肿瘤组织、配对的癌旁正常组织、术前外周血中APC、RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4α、RASSF1A抑癌基因的甲基化状态进行检测。随机选取60名年龄配对的健康志愿者外周血浆DNA作对照。[结果]肿瘤组织APC、RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4α、RASSF1A的甲基化率显著高于对应癌旁正常组织（P=0.000）。术前外周血中这5种基因的甲基化率显著高于健康对照组（P=0.000）。RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4α、RASSF1A甲基化有显著性相关,APC与这4个基因甲基化无相关性。[结论]食管癌患者癌组织及外周血抑癌基因APC、RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4α、RASSF1A高甲基化,RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4α、RASSF1A甲基化有显著相关性。     

非小细胞肺癌RASSF1A启动子甲基化状态临床研究

目的 探讨非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)中RASSF1A启动子的甲基化状态及临床意义.方法 采用甲基化特异的PCR(MSP)检测150例NSCLC、34例癌旁正常组织和20例肺部良性病变中RASSF1A启动子甲基化状态.结果 150例NSCLC中58例发现RASSF1A启动子存在甲基化(38.7%),34例癌旁正常组织和20例肺部良性病变无一例发现RASSF1A启动子甲基化.RASSF1A启动子甲基化与年龄、性别、吸烟指数、组织类型、TNM临床分期均无关(P＞0.05),与开始吸烟年龄、肿瘤分化程度相关(P＜0.05).结论 RASSF1A启动子甲基化状态可以作为NSCLC诊断的一个候选分子标志.     

血浆中检测FHIT、p16、MGMT和RASSF1A基因甲基化在肺癌诊断中的价值

目的:探讨血浆中脆性组氨酸三连体基因(fragile histidine triad,FHIT)、p16基因、O6-甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶基因(O6-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase,MGMT)及信号转导通路基因(rasassociation domain family1A,RASSF1A)等抑癌基因启动子异常甲基化及其联合检测在肺癌筛查及早期诊断中的价值。方法:采用甲基化特异性PCR(methylation specifi c PCR,MSP)法,检测53例肺癌组织和对应的血浆标本以及24例肺良性病变组织中FHIT、p16、MGMT和RASSF1A4种基因启动子区甲基化状态。结果:肺癌组织中FHIT、p16、MGMT和RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化检出率分别为39.6%(21/53)、49.1%(26/53)、35.8%(19/53)和18.9%(10/53);其对应的血浆标本中这4个基因的甲基化检出率分别为35.8%(19/53)、49.1%(26/53)、28.3%(15/53)和17.0%(9/53),两组标本甲基化检出率存在着较好的一致性(P>0.05)。24例肺良性病变组织标本和血浆标本中分别有同1例(0.04%)出现p16基因甲基化,与肺癌组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。4项指标联合检测可显著提高肺癌检测的敏感度(73.6%)和特异度(95.8%)。p16基因在血浆中甲基化检出率与患者吸烟指数有明显相关性(P<0.05)。结论:血浆中多个肺癌相关基因甲基化联合检测有望成为肺癌筛查、早期诊断简便有效的指标。     

非小细胞肺癌中FHIT基因异常甲基化对其蛋白、mRNA表达的影响

背景与目的 脆性组氨酸三联体(fragile histidine triad,FHIT)是一种新的抑癌基因,其启动子甲基化在肿瘤的发生和发展过程中发挥重要作用.本研究的目的 是通过检测非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)中抑癌基因FHIT启动子CpG岛异常甲基化和蛋白、转录表达情况及其相互关系,探讨FHIT基因在NSCLC发生发展中的作用.方法 应用甲基化特异性PCR(Methylation-specific PCR,MSP)、免疫印迹(Western Blot)及RT-PCR测定52例NSCLC组织及其癌旁正常组织(>5 cm)中FHIT的甲基化、蛋白表达和转录水平.结果 NSCLC癌组织中FHIT甲基化率为38.46%(20/52),在癌旁正常组织中FHIT甲基化率为7.6996(4/52),两者差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05);癌组织中FHIT蛋白表达率为28.8%(15/52),癌旁正常组织FHIT蛋白表达率为88.5%(46/52),两者差异存在统计学意义(P=0.000);FHIT mRNA在癌组织中表达率为51.9%(27/52),在癌旁正常组织中全部表达,且表达量明显高于癌组织(P=0.000).结论 在NSCLC中,FHIT基因启动子甲基化频率明显升高,其蛋白表达率明显下降,mRNA表达率下降,提示FHIT启动子甲基化在肺癌的发生和发展中起着一定作用,而且FHIT基因的甲基化与蛋白及mRNA的表达存在一定的关系.     

RASSF1A和p16 转录本在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及启动子区甲基化

 目的 研究RASSF1A和p16基因在国人非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织中的转录及启动子区甲基化情况，探讨其转录失活的机制，为NSCLC的诊断和治疗寻找新的途径。方法 应用半定量RTPCR和甲基化特异性PCR法分析96例NSCLC及远癌正常肺组织中RASSF1A和p16基因mRNA的表达和启动子区甲基化情况。结果 （1）53．12％（51／96）的NSCLC中RASSF1A表达明显下调或缺失；36．46％（35／96）的p16表达下调或缺失，而远癌正常肺组织均表达良好。（2）96例NSCLC中RASSF1A甲基化率48．96％（47／96），该基因表达明显下调或缺失的51例中39例（76．5％）出现甲基化，表达正常的45例中8例（17．8％）出现甲基化，两组对比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；96例NSCLC中33例（34．38％）检测到p16启动予区甲基化，p16基因表达明显下调的35例中20例（57．1％）出现该基因CPG岛的甲基化，而表达正常的61例中13例（21．3％）出现甲基化，两组比较差异显著（P〈0．05）。96例远癌正常肺组织均未检测到此两基因启动子有甲基化。结论 RASSF1A和p16基因mRNA在国人NSCLC中较高比例的表达下调或缺失；甲基化可能是两基因表达失活的主要原因。     

MSP法检测胃癌组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化改变

目的:探讨抑癌基因RASSF1A启动子区CpG岛甲基化与胃癌及临床病理特征的关系.方法:采用甲基化特异性PCR(methylation-specific PCR,MSP)法检测60例胃癌组织及相应癌旁组织和30例对照组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化状态.结果:胃癌组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化率为65.0%(39/60),显著高于癌旁组织6.7%(4/60),及对照组0%(0/30)(P＜0.01).胃癌组织中不同年龄、性别、分化程度及淋巴结转移与否的RASSF1A基因甲基化率的差异均无统计学意义.结论:胃癌中RASSF1A基因启动子区的高甲基化提示其与胃癌的发生密切相关,MSP法对RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化的检测有望成为胃癌早期监测的重要方法.     

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。     

P16INK4a和RASSF1a启动子甲基化在非小细胞肺癌中的研究

目的探讨抑癌基因p16INK4a和RASSF1a启动子甲基化在非小细胞肺癌中的作用。方法应用甲基化特异的PCR（methyl-specific PCR,MSP）和RT-PCR法测定基因的甲基化率与mRNA的转录水平,回收PCR产物测序。结果在NSCLC癌/癌旁组织中的甲基化率分别是RASSF1a为55%和10%,p16INK4a为43%和12%,p16INK4a和RASSF1a的甲基化率在〉65岁组高于≤65岁组,两基因甲基化率均随吸烟指数的增加而增高,并且随TNM临床进展而逐渐增加;p16INK4a甲基化率鳞癌组高于腺癌组。甲基化的NSCLC标本mRNA转录失活或下降,在细胞株水平5-aza-deoxycytidine（5-Aza-CdR）处理后,甲基化而转录沉默的细胞株恢复转录活性。结论启动子甲基化是调节p16^INK4a和RASSF1a转录的重要机制,5-Aza-CdR具有逆转甲基化而恢复转录的作用。     

食管鳞癌组织DNA甲基化与肿瘤侵袭相关性的探讨

目的:研究食管鳞癌组织中多基因甲基化状态及其与临床病理特征的相关性.方法:提取76例食管鳞癌患者的新鲜冷冻肿瘤组织及癌旁正常组织,用酚氯仿法抽提组织中的DNA,然后用亚硫酸氢盐进行甲基化处理,最后用Real-time MSP技术分别检测了APC、RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4a和RASSF1A 5个抑癌基因的甲基化状态,结合临床及病理资料用统计软件SPSS 17.0进行统计学分析.结果:食管癌组织中5个基因DNA甲基化率显著高于癌旁正常组织(P＝0.000).肿瘤组织中5个基因DNA甲基化率与临床病理分期、淋巴结转移及神经脉管浸润均显著相关,P＜0.050,且APC、p16INK4a和RASSF1A甲基化与肿瘤T分期显著相关,P＜0.050,RARβ2及CDH1基因甲基化与肿瘤T分期无显著相关性(P值分别为0.320,0.105).这5个抑癌基因甲基化与年龄、性别、肿瘤位置、肿瘤长度、分化程度、吸烟和饮酒等7项指标无显著相关性.经Logistic分析,家族肿瘤史是肿瘤组织APC基因DNA甲基化的独立相关因素[P=0.036,Exp(B)=34.675,95％CI(1.253～959.844)].结论:食管癌患者肿瘤组织APC、RARβ2、CDH1、p16INK4a和RASSF1A均存在高甲基化现象,肿瘤组织中DNA甲基化与肿瘤侵袭程度显著相关;家族肿瘤史是肿瘤组织APC基因DNA甲基化的独立相关因素.     

CpG island methylator phenotype involving tumor suppressor genes located on chromosome 3p in non-small cell lung cancer

CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) involving methylation abnormalities of tumor suppressor gene (TSG) on short arm of chromosome 3 (chromosome 3p) has not been so far epigenetically elucidated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method, we examined methylation profiles for eight TSGs harbored in chromosome 3p in 60 NSCLC tissues and 60 paired normal tissues as well as 11 normal blood samples. CIMP positive is referred to having four or more than four synchronously methylated genes per sample. Consequently, 59 of 60 (98.3%) NSCLC presented promoter methylation of at least one gene while only one malignant tumor showed no methylation of any of eight genes. The frequency of promoter methylation for eight genes explored ranged from 12% for hMLH1 to 67% for RASSF1A given that of VHL (none) was not considered. Interestingly, CIMP+ was found in 56.7% (34/60) of NSCLC, and in 6.7% (4/60) of paired normal tissues and 0% (0/11) of normal blood samples, respectively; CIMP- was present in 43.3% (26/60) of NSCLC, 93.3% (56/60) of paired normal tissues, and 100% (11/11) of normal blood samples, respectively. The data suggest that CIMP status was significantly associated with NSCLC, paired normal tissues and normal blood samples (P<0.001). In addition, there appeared to be a significant association between CIMP status and survival prognosis of NSCLC (P=0.0166). In the present study, for the first time, we shed light on the presence of chromosome 3p-specific CIMP, which might play an important role in tumorigenesis of NSCLC.     

DLEC1 and MLH1 promoter methylation are associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung carcinoma

The significance of chromosome 3p gene alterations in lung cancer is poorly understood. This study set out to investigate promoter methylation in the deleted in lung and oesophageal cancer 1 (DLEC1), MLH1 and other 3p genes in 239 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). DLEC1 was methylated in 38.7%, MLH1 in 35.7%, RARbeta in 51.7%, RASSF1A in 32.4% and BLU in 35.3% of tumours. Any two of the gene alterations were associated with each other except RARbeta. DLEC1 methylation was an independent marker of poor survival in the whole cohort (P=0.025) and in squamous cell carcinoma (P=0.041). MLH1 methylation was also prognostic, particularly in large cell cancer (P=0.006). Concordant methylation of DLEC1/MLH1 was the strongest independent indicator of poor prognosis in the whole cohort (P=0.009). However, microsatellite instability and loss of MLH1 expression was rare, suggesting that MLH1 promoter methylation does not usually lead to gene silencing in lung cancer. This is the first study describing the prognostic value of DLEC1 and MLH1 methylation in NSCLC. The concordant methylation is possibly a consequence of a long-range epigenetic effect in this region of chromosome 3p, which has recently been described in other cancers.     

5' CpG island methylation of the FHIT gene is correlated with loss of gene expression in lung and breast cancer

Allele loss and loss of expression of fragile histidine triad (FHIT), a putative tumor suppressor gene located in chromosome region 3p14.2, are frequent in several types of cancers. Tumor-acquired methylation of promoter region CpG islands is one method for silencing tumor suppressor genes. We investigated 5' CpG island methylation of the FHIT gene in 107 primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples and corresponding nonmalignant lung tissues, 39 primary breast carcinomas, as well as in 49 lung and 22 breast cancer cell lines by a methylation-specific PCR assay. In addition, we analyzed brushes from the bronchial epithelium of 35 heavy smokers without cancer. FHIT methylation was detected in 37% of primary NSCLCs, 31% of primary breast cancers, and 65% of lung and 86% of breast cancer cell lines. The frequency of methylation in small cell and NSCLC cell lines were identical. Methylation was found in 9% of the corresponding nonmalignant lung tissues and in 17% of bronchial brushes from heavy cigarette smokers. FHIT methylation was significantly correlated with loss of FHIT mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis in lung cancer cell lines and with loss of Fhit expression in NSCLC and breast tumors by immunostaining. We conclude that methylation of FHIT is a frequent event in NSCLC and breast cancers and is an important mechanism for loss of expression of this gene. Methylation of FHIT commences during lung cancer pathogenesis and may represent a marker for risk assessment.     

Methylation associated inactivation of RASSF1A from region 3p21.3 in lung, breast and ovarian tumours

Previously we analysed overlapping homozygous deletions in lung and breast tumours/tumour lines and defined a small region of 120 kb (part of LCTSGR1) at 3p21.3 that contained putative lung and breast cancer tumour suppressor gene(s) (TSG). Eight genes including RASSF1 were isolated from the minimal region. However, extensive mutation analysis in lung tumours and tumour lines revealed only rare inactivating mutations. Recently, de novo methylation at a CpG island associated with isoform A of RASSF1 (RASSF1A) was reported in lung tumours and tumour lines. To investigate RASSF1A as a candidate TSG for various cancers, we investigated: (a) RASSF1A methylation status in a large series of primary tumour and tumour lines; (b) chromosome 3p allele loss in lung tumours and (c) RASSF1 mutation analysis in breast tumours. RASSF1A promoter region CpG island methylation was detected in 72% of SCLC, 34% of NSCLC, 9% of breast, 10% of ovarian and 0% of primary cervical tumours and in 72% SCLC, 36% NSCLC, 80% of breast and 40% of ovarian tumour lines. In view of the lower frequency of RASSF1 methylation in primary breast cancers we proceeded to RASSF1 mutation analysis in 40 breast cancers. No mutations were detected, but six single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. Twenty of 26 SCLC tumours with 3p21.3 allelic loss had RASSF1A methylation, while only six out of 22 NSCLC with 3p21.3 allele loss had RASSF1A methylation (P=0.0012), one out of five ovarian and none out of six cervical tumours with 3p21.3 loss had RASSF1A methylation. These results suggest that (a) RASSF1A inactivation by two hits (methylation and loss) is a critical step in SCLC tumourigenesis and (b) RASSF1A inactivation is of lesser importance in NSCLC, breast, ovarian and cervical cancers in which other genes within LCTSGR1 are likely to be implicated.     

Clinicopathological significance of aberrant methylation of RARbeta2 at 3p24, RASSF1A at 3p21.3, and FHIT at 3p14.2 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

We investigated the clinicopathological significance of aberrant methylation of the retinoic acid receptor-beta2 (RARbeta2), RAS association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) and fragile histidine triad (FHIT) genes located on choromosome 3p in 120 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by a methylation-specific PCR method. Aberrant methylation of these was detected in 31 (26%), 35 (29%) and 43 (36%) tumors, respectively. There was no correlation with the methylation status of any of the genes. RARbeta2 methylation was more frequently observed in patients with a smoking history (19 of 61, 31%) than in patients without one (3 of 29, 10%, P = 0.0373). RARbeta2 methylation was also preferentially observed in advanced stage NSCLC (12 of 71 (17%) in stage I, 5 of 15 (33%) in stage II, 11 of 24 (46%) in stage III, and 3 of 8 (38%) in stage IV, P = 0.0057 (stage I versus II, III,and IV)). FHIT methylation was predominantly detected in tumors with vascular invasion (21 of 44, 48%, P = 0.0703) or lymphatic permeation (28 of 59, 47%, P = 0.0115). RASSF1A methylation was more frequently observed in adenocarcinomas (28 of 72, 39%) than in squamous cell carcinomas (6 of 45, 13%, P = 0.0033). These results indicate that aberrant methylation of the candidate tumor suppressor genes on 3p plays a respective role in the pathogenesis of NSCLC.     

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.     

Detailed deletion mapping of the short arm of chromosome 3 in small cell and non-small cell carcinoma of the lung

We constructed a detailed deletion map of the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) for 55 lung cancer cases by using 17 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) probes. Initially, we examined 40 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases and found three regions of deletion at 3p25–26, 3p21.3 and 3p14-cen. suggesting the possibility of at least three different tumor-suppressor genes on 3p. In order to obtain more detailed deletion area, and to compare the pattern of 3p deletion, we also examined 15 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. Compared to NSCLC cases, most of SCLC cases have widespread deletion on 3p, suggesting multiple tumor-suppressor genes on 3p may be inactivated in this type of cancer. In 3p21.3 area, minimum overlapping area of deletion lays between two probes which are close to each other. These data will be useful to isolate the putative tumor-suppressor genes located on the chromosome 3p.     

Hypermethylation of p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) genes in non-small cell lung cancer.

Hypermethylation of CpG island is a common mechanism by which tumor suppressor genes are inactivated. The tumor suppressor genes p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) are important components of the cell cycles. We have studied the feasibility of detecting tumor-associated aberrant p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) methylation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using methylation-specific PCR. We found a high frequency of hypermethylation of the p16(INK4a) gene in 17 of 45 cases of NSCLC. In this study, there was no difference between the clinicopathological features or overall survival of patients with and without p16(INK4a) methylation. On the other hand, p15(INK4b) promoter hypermethylation is rare (5/45) in lung cancer and occurs in association with p16(INK4a) methylation. The overall survival of patients with p15(INK4b) methylation was markedly shortened in this series. We also analyzed cells in bronchial washings, and p16(INK4a) methylation was detected in 4 of 17 cases of NSCLC. Moreover, 1 of 10 plasma samples from patients with NSCLC was positive for p16(INK4a) methylation. Our results suggest a possible prognostic role of p15(INK4b) methylation in NSCLC, and that the detection of aberrant p16(INK4a) methylation in both bronchial washings and plasma may be useful for cancer diagnosis.