高发区食管癌患者p16基因甲基化及其表达的比较研究

目的:比较p16基因甲基化在食管癌高发区河南林州(北方组)和广东揭阳(南方组)之间的异同,探讨p16基因甲基化在不同气候环境条件下的两地食管鳞癌(ESCC)发生中的作用。方法:采用甲基化特异性PCR方法(MSP)分别检测两地食管癌组织、癌旁组织和切缘组织p16基因启动子区域CpG岛甲基化状态。采用EnVision免疫组化法检测两地食管癌组织及癌旁组织的p16蛋白的表达。结果:南方组75例标本中,食管癌组织、癌旁组织和切缘组织p16基因甲基化率分别为41.3%(31/75)、13.3%(10/75)和6.67%(5/75);癌组织和癌旁组织p16蛋白的阳性表达率分别为29.3%(22/75)和56.7%(17/30);31例p16基因甲基化阳性标本中有2例(6.4%)检测到p16蛋白的表达,而44例p16基因甲基化阴性标本中有20例(45.5%)检测到p16蛋白的表达。北方组65例标本中,食管癌组织、癌旁组织、切缘组织p16基因甲基化率分别为52.3%(34/65)、16.9%(11/65)和7.69%(5/65);食管癌组织和癌旁组织p16蛋白的阳性表达率分别为32.3%(21/65)和66.7%(20/30);34例p16基因甲基化阳性标本中有4例(11.8%)检测到p16蛋白的表达,而31例p16基因甲基化阴性标本中有17例(54.8%)检测到p16基因的表达。两地组内癌组织p16甲基化率均显著高于癌旁组织和切缘组织,p16蛋白表达与p16基因甲基化呈负相关(P<0.01)。两地同类组织比较p16甲基化率和p16蛋白表达率均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:p16基因异常甲基化后功能失活可能是南、北两地食管癌癌变过程的重要事件,在我国南北环境气候条件不同的两地高发区食管癌的发生中均起着重要的作用。本研究为环境因素和p16基因功能之间的生物学关联在食管癌的发生中提供了一定的证据。     

食管鳞癌组织中 CDK10基因启动子甲基化状态检测的临床意义

目的：探讨周期素依赖性激酶10（CDK10）在食管鳞癌中基因启动子甲基化状态及其与临床病理参数的关系。方法：应用甲基化特异性 PCR 检测 CDK10基因启动子在55例食管鳞癌组织及相应癌旁组织中的甲基化状态并结合临床病理资料进行分析。结果：在食管鳞癌组织中 CDK10甲基化阳性率（69．1％,38／55）显著高于癌旁对照组织（9．1％,5／55）（P ＜0．01）。CDK10甲基化与食管鳞癌淋巴结转移与临床分期显著相关（P ＜0．05）。结论：CDK10基因甲基化与食管癌淋巴结转移和临床分期密切相关。     

肺鳞癌、腺癌中p14 ARF基因启动子区甲基化及蛋白表达的研究

背景与目的 p14^ARF基因是新近发现的抑癌基因，其异常表达与多种人类肿瘤发生有关，启动子区异常甲基化作为p14^ARF基因失活的重要形式可能参与了肿瘤的发生。本研究通过检测肺鳞癌、腺癌中p14^ARF启动子区甲基化状态和蛋白表达，探讨p14^ARF启动子区甲基化与肺癌的关系。方法 通过免疫组织化学（IHC）、甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）和相关限制性内切酶PCR（RF-PCR）方法，检测40例肺鳞癌、腺癌组织中p14^ARF启动子区甲基化状态和蛋白表达水平。结果 癌组织及癌旁正常组织中p14^ARF启动子区甲基化阳性率分别为17．5％（7／40）和2．5％（1／40）（P-0．025）。RE-PCR检测结果相同。癌组织及癌旁正常组织中p14^ARF蛋白阳性率分别为70．0％（28／40）和95．0％（38／40）（P-0．003）。p14^ARF基因启动子区甲基化和蛋白表达均与肿瘤分期、组织类型、分化程度、淋巴结转移等临床病理特征无明显关系（P＜0．05）。p14^ARF启动子区甲基化与蛋白表达呈负相关（r=-0．56，P=0．001）。结论 启动子区甲基化是p14^ARF基因失活的重要机制。p14^ARF启动子区异常甲基化可能参与了非小细胞肺癌的发生，是肺癌发生过程的早期事件。     

食管鳞癌中hMLH1、E-cadherin、p16^INK4a基因启动子甲基化及其意义

背景与目的:目前认为抑癌基因启动子甲基化导致转录抑制是恶性肿瘤发生的重要机制之一,hgLH1、E-cadherin及p16INK4a基因在多种恶性肿瘤中都已被证实存在较高频率的甲基化.本研究通过检测食管鳞癌组织及癌旁组织中hMLH1、E-cadherin,p16INK4a基因启动子甲基化的发生情况,探讨hMLH1、E-cadherin、p16INK4a基因启动子甲基化在食管鳞癌发生发展中的作用.方法:采用酚-氯仿法提取105例食管鳞癌组织及癌旁组织的基因组DNA,应用甲基化特异性PCR对所提DNA进行hMLH1、E-cadherin、p16INK4a基因甲基化检测.采用EnVison免疫组织化学二步法对癌组织中上述3种基因蛋白表达进行检测.结果:癌组织中E-cadherin、hMLH1、p16INK4a基因启动子甲基化的阳性率分别为57.1%(60/105)、20.9%(22/105)和50.5%(53/105),而癌旁食管组织中相应的3个基因的甲基化率分别为10.5%(11/105)、1.9%(2/105)和7.6%(8/105),均显著低于癌组织.E-cadherin(P=0.021)及p16INK4a(P=0.026)基因甲基化与蛋白表达缺失密切相关,而hMLH1基因甲基化与蛋白表达无显著相关性.E-cadherin基因启动子甲基化与淋巴结转移有关(P=0.016),p16INK4a基因启动子甲基化与低分化癌有关性(P=0.024).hMLH1基因甲基化与各项临床病理特征均无关.结论:食管鳞癌中p16INK4a基因启动子甲基化与相应蛋白表达缺失密切相关,且在低分化癌中更多见;E-cadherin基因启动子甲基化与相应蛋白质表达缺失有相关性,并且有淋巴结转移多见的显著特征,这2个基因的甲基化位点与食管鳞癌密切相关.hMLH1基因甲基化可能并不直接参与食管鳞癌的发生、发展.     

胃癌组织hMLH1启动子甲基化是造成其蛋白表达降低的主要原因

目的：通过研究胃癌中错配修复基因hMLH1启动子区5CpG岛甲基化及蛋白表达情况，探讨hMLH1启动子Ⅸ甲基化对蛋白表达的影响及在胃癌发病中的作用。方法：收集诊断明确且未经放化疗的胃癌手术切除标本41例及同病例癌旁黏膜。应用免疫组化SP法检测标本hMLH1蛋白表达情况。应用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）榆测标本hMLH1启动子区甲基化情况。结果：胃癌组与癌旁组，hMLH1蛋白阳性表达率分别为58．54％（24／41）和80．49％（33／41）（P〈0．05）；启动子甲基化率分别为80．49％（33／41）和24．39％（10／41）（P〈0．05）；完全甲基化率分别为41．46％（17／41）和19．51％（8／41）（P〈0．05）；部分甲基化率分别为39．02％（16／41）和4．88％（2／41）（P〈0．05）。无论胃癌组织还是癌旁组织，完全甲基化病例均出现hMLH1蛋白表达缺失，部分甲基化病例和启动子未甲基化病例均有hMLH1蛋白表达。hMLHI基因启动子甲基化率与胃癌患者性别、年龄、癌组织分化程度、浸润深度和淋巴结转移均无明显相关性（P〉0．05）。结论：hM—LH1基因启动子甲基化是导致hMLH1蛋白表达降低的主要原因；胃黏膜hMLH1蛋白表达降低有助于胃癌的预警。     

ECRG4 基因甲基化在食管癌中的检测及临床意义

目的：探讨人食管癌相关基因4（ECRG4）在食管癌中基因启动子甲基化状态及临床意义。方法：应用甲基化特异性PCR检测ECRG4基因启动子在55例食管癌原发组织及癌旁组织中的甲基化状态并结合临床病理资料进行分析。结果：在食管癌组织中ECRG4甲基化阳性率（67．3％，37／55）显著高于癌旁对照组织（5．5％，3／55）（P〈0．01）。ECRG4甲基化与肿瘤病变长度与患者饮酒史密切相关（P〈0．05）。结论：ECRG4甲基化可能是参与食管癌发展的重要分子事件。     

ABCG2和p75NTR在食管鳞癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理学特征的关系

目的:观察ABCG2和p75NTR在食管鳞癌（esophageal squamous carcinoma cell,ESCC）组织及与癌旁正常组织中的表达差异及其与患者临床病理学特征及相互之间的关系。方法:以免疫组化方法检测80例食管鳞癌患者手术标本和62例癌旁正常食管组织中的ABCG2和p75NTR表达,分析其与临床病理学特征及生存率的关系。结果:ABCG2和 p75NTR在食管鳞癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁正常食管组织;与TNM分期有显著相关性（P＜0.05）。结论:食管癌干细胞标志物ABCG2和p75NTR在食管鳞癌组织中高表达,并且高于癌旁组织,与TNM分期关系密切,提示该研究为探索食管癌干细胞标志物奠定了基础。     

食管鳞癌组织中TSLC1基因启动子甲基化状态检测的临床意义

目的:探讨肺癌抑癌基因1（TSLC1）在食管鳞癌组织中基因启动子甲基化状态及其与临床病理参数的关系。方法:应用甲基化特异性PCR检测TSLC1基因启动子在98例食管鳞癌组织及相应癌旁组织中的甲基化状态并结合临床病理资料进行分析。结果:在食管鳞癌组织中TSLC1基因甲基化阳性率（55.1%,54/98）显著高于癌旁组织（4.1%,4/98）（P<0.01）。TSLC1甲基化与食管鳞癌临床分期和浸润深度显著相关（P=0.035和0.001）。结论:TSLC1基因甲基化可能是参与食管鳞癌发展的重要分子事件。     

食管鳞癌中DACT2基因表达及甲基化状态研究

[目的]检测食管鳞状细胞癌(ESCC)中DACT2基因表达及启动子区甲基化状态,探讨DACT2基因在食管鳞癌发生发展中的作用.[方法]分别应用逆转录—聚合酶链反应(RTPCR)以及甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)的方法检测DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂5-氮杂-2'-脱氧胞苷(5-aza-dC)处理前后的食管癌细胞系(TE1、TE13、T.Tn、Eca109)以及食管鳞癌组织及相应癌旁组织中DACT2 mRNA表达情况及启动子区甲基化状态.[结果]经5-aza-dC处理后4种食管癌细胞系中DACT2基因的表达均增高.4种未经5-aza-dC处理的食管癌细胞系中DACT2基因呈高甲基化状态.应用5-aza-dC处理后,DACT2基因在4种细胞系中均呈非甲基化状态.DACT2基因在食管鳞癌组织中的表达显著低于癌旁组织(0.66±0.53 vs 0.95±0.64,t=-2.43,P=0.018),并与淋巴结转移密切相关(t=-2.030,P=0.048).食管鳞癌组织中DACT2基因的启动子区甲基化率显著高于癌旁组织(50.0％ vs 21.1％,x2=9.439,P=0.002),并与TNM分期、组织学分化程度和淋巴结转移密切相关(P均＜0.05).发生DACT2基因甲基化的食管鳞癌组织中DACT2基因的表达量显著低于未发生甲基化的食管鳞癌组织(0.46±0.32 vs 0.78±0.61,t=-2.341,P=0.023).[结论]DA CT2基因在食管鳞癌中的异常低表达与食管鳞癌的发生、发展密切相关,且其启动子区甲基化可能是导致其表达沉默的机制之一.     

河南林州地区贲门癌和癌旁组织中p16基因启动子甲基化及蛋白表达

目的探讨贲门癌变过程中p16基因启动子区甲基化和p16蛋白表达变化特征和规律及其相互关系。方法采用甲基化特异PCR（MSP）及免疫组化方法,检测林州地区32例贲门癌患者癌组织、癌旁不典型增生组织和正常组织p16基因启动子区甲基化状态及蛋白表达情况。结果p16基因在癌组织中表达缺失18例（56%）,不典型增生组织中表达缺失8例（73%）;26例（81%）癌组织、7例（64%）不典型增生组织和18例（67%）正常组织发生了p16基因启动子区的甲基化。贲门癌组织中p16基因甲基化与表达缺失一致率为56%。差异无统计学意义,P〉0.05。结论p16蛋白表达缺失可能是贲门癌变过程中的重要分子事件,p16基因启动子区甲基化可能是导致其蛋白表达缺失的机制之一。     

非小细胞肺癌INK4a和ARF基因甲基化与其蛋白共表达关系的探讨

目的:分析INK4a和ARF基因启动子甲基化与其蛋白共表达之间的关系.方法:选择前期实验中p14ARF和p16INK4a蛋白共表达阴性的非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者35例,共表达阳性的NSCLC患者20例作为研究对象,分别称为(p14 p16)阴性组和(p14 p16)阳性组.运用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)方法对两组患者癌组织INK4a和ARF基因启动子的甲基化状态进行检测.结果:(p14 p16)阴性组有18例发生INK4a基因甲基化,(p14 p16)阳性组有2例发生INK4a基因甲基化,两组差异有显著意义(P＜0.01).(p14 p16)阴性组有8例发生ARF基因启动子甲基化,(p14 p16)阳性组有2例发生ARF基因启动子甲基化,两组差异无显著意义(P＞0.05).INK4a和ARF基因异常申基化相互之间无显著相关性(P＞0.05).结论:NSCLC患者肺癌组织INK4a基因甲基化是导致p16INK4a蛋白表达阴性的重要机制;INK4a和ARF基因甲基化可能是相对独立的事件.     

p16(INK4a) Promoter hypermethylation of non-tumorous tissue adjacent to gastric cancer is correlated with glandular atrophy and chronic inflammation

The p16(INK4a) tumor suppressor gene can be inactivated by promoter region hypermethylation in many tumor types including gastric cancers. However, p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation in the surrounding non-tumorous tissues of gastric cancers has not been studied in detail. We therefore examined 46 gastric cancers, corresponding adjacent non-tumorous tissue samples and 8 gastric tissue samples of chronic gastritis by performing methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, and we analyzed p16(INK4a) protein expression using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation was observed in 43% of gastric cancers and 59% of adjacent non-tumorous tissues; however, none of the samples retrieved from the chronic gastritis patients displayed p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation. Gastric cancers showed an inverse correlation between vascular invasion and p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation, and adjacent non-tumorous tissues displayed a close association among the grade of chronic inflammation, presence of glandular atrophy and p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation. p16(INK4a) expression was markedly decreased in samples with p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation when compared with samples without p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation. These results suggest that p16(INK4a) promoter hypermethylation is an early and frequent event in gastric carcinogenesis and may serve as a new prognostic biomarker for the risk of gastric cancers.     

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。     

Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes (p16INK4A, p14ARF and APC) in adenocarcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Aberrant promoter methylation is an important mechanism for gene silencing. In the present study, 50 Barrett's esophagus-associated esophageal adenocarcinomas (ADC), 50 cardiac ADC and 50 gastric ADC were investigated by means of methylation-specific real-time PCR for hypermethylation in the tumor suppressor genes APC, p16(INk4A) and p14(ARF). Additionally, expression of p16(INK4A) protein in the carcinomas was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Marked differences in hypermethylation were found between esophageal, cardiac and gastric ADC in the APC gene (78% vs. 32% vs. 84%) and in the p16(INK4A) gene (54% vs. 36% vs. 10%). Hypermethylation of p14(ARF) was absent from esophageal ADC and present infrequently in cardiac (2%) and gastric ADC (10%). Complete loss of p16(INK4A) protein expression was detectable in 45% of all tumors and was significantly associated with hypermethylation of the p16(INK4A) gene (p<0.0001, chi(2)-test). Our results suggest that hypermethylation of p16(INK4A) and APC are frequent findings in esophageal, cardiac and gastric ADC. Additionally, the data point to a tumor specific methylation pattern in upper gastrointestinal ADC.     

Mechanisms of inactivation of p14ARF, p15INK4b, and p16INK4a genes in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The 9p21 gene cluster, harboring growth suppressive genes p14ARF, p15INK4b, and p16INK4a, is one of the major aberration hotspots in human cancers. It was shown that p14ARF and p16INK4a play active roles in the p53 and Rb tumor suppressive pathways, respectively, and p15INK4b is a mediator of the extracellular growth inhibition signals. To elucidate specific targets and aberrations affecting this subchromosomal region, we constructed a detailed alteration map of the 9p21 gene cluster by analyzing homozygous deletion, hypermethylation, and mutation of the p14ARF, p15INK4b, and p16INK4a genes individually in 40 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and compared the genetic alterations with mRNA expression in 18 of these samples. We detected aberrant promoter methylation of the p16INK4a gene in 16 (40%), of p14ARF in 6 (15%), and of p15INK4b in 5 (12.5%) tumor samples. Most p16INK4a methylations were exclusive, whereas all but one of the p14ARF/p15INK4b methylations were accompanied by concomitant p16INK4a methylation. We detected homozygous deletion of p16INK4a in 7 (17.5%), of p14ARF-E1beta in 13 (33%), and of p15INK4b in 16 (40%) tumor samples. Most deletions occurred exclusively on the E1beta-p15INK4b loci. Two samples contained p14ARF deletion but with p16INK4a and p15INK4b intact. No mutation was detected in the p14ARF and p16INK4a genes. Comparative RT-PCR showed good concordance between suppressed mRNA expression and genetic alteration for p15INK4b and p16INK4a genes in the 18 frozen samples, whereas 5 of the 13 cases with suppressed p14ARF mRNA expression contained no detectable E1beta alteration but aberrations in the p16INK4a locus. Our results show that in human ESCCs, p14ARF is a primary target of homozygous deletion along with p15INK4b, whereas p16INK4a is the hotspot of hypermethylation of the 9p21 gene cluster. The frequent inactivation of the p14ARF and p16INK4a genes may be an important mechanism for the dysfunction of both the Rb and p53 growth regulation pathways during ESCC development.     

新疆哈萨克族与汉族食管鳞癌中smad4基因启动子甲基化的状态及意义

目的 研究新疆汉族与哈族(哈萨克族)食管鳞癌中smad4基因启动子区的甲基化水平及意 义。方法 收集哈族食管癌组织37例和正常对照组织33例;汉族食管癌组织31例和正常对照组织 33例。应用Mass ARRAY甲基化DNA定量分析技术对食管组织中smad4基因启动子区的甲基化水平 行定量分析。结果 汉族与哈族食管癌组和对照组中smad4基因启动子区的平均甲基化率分别为 3.4%和2.8%、 3.4%和2.5% ,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。smad4基因启动子区CpG-15、CpG-27 在汉族食管癌中的平均甲基化率(4.7%、4.9%)明显高于对照组 (2.8%、3.5%);CpG-1、CpG-16-19、 CpG-27-28、CpG-31-33在哈族食管癌中的平均甲基化率(1.7%、4.5%、4.9%、6.8%)明显高于哈族对照 组(0.7%、2.2%、3.0%、5.5%),CpG-6在哈族食管癌和正常组织中的平均甲基化水平(1.9%、 1.1%)均 明显高于汉族食管癌组(0.4%),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 (1)smad4基因启动子区的高甲基 化可能参与了食管癌的发生。(2)smad4基因启动子区CpG-15、CpG-27的高甲基化可能与汉族食管癌 发生关系密切;而CpG-1、CpG-16-19、 CpG-27-28、CpG-31-33的高甲基化可能 是新疆哈族食管癌高发的原因;smad4 基因启动子区CpG-6的高甲基化可能导 致哈族食管癌较汉族食管癌高发。     

Expression of tumor suppressor gene p16(INK4) products in primary gastric cancer

Recent studies have shown that the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p27(Kip1) represents an indicator for patients' outcome in several human malignancies including gastric cancer. However, the clinicopathologic value of another class of CDK inhibitor, p16(INK4), has not been determined. In a retrospective study, we examined the expression of p16(INK4) by immunohistochemical assay of 80 samples of primary gastric cancers and their adjacent nonneoplastic mucosas. Less than 10% of non-tumor gastric mucosal cells were p16(INK4) positive, whereas the expression of p16(INK4) in gastric cancer cells varied widely from 0 to 100% (mean, 24.5%). The expression of p16(INK4) was not seen in 11.3% (9/80) of the cancer cases, but in 65% (52/80) this protein was even overexpressed when compared with the nonneoplastic mucosa. A clinicopathologic survey indicated that a low or no expression of p16(INK4) was associated with poorly differentiated carcinoma (p = 0.0133), but the level of expression did not correlate with other parameters including patients' prognosis or with the expression of the pRb protein. In an effort to explore the underlying mechanism for the p16(INK4)-negative cases, a prospective study was also performed on 20 cases of gastric cancer to compare the level of the p16(INK4) protein with the methylation status of the p16(INK4) promoter. Gastric cancer tissues with methylation expressed significantly lower levels of the p16(INK4) protein (p = 0.0013) and two of them lacked p16(INK4) expression altogether, whereas all the cancer tissues without methylation expressed it. These findings suggest that the p16(INK4) protein may be associated with differentiation of gastric cancer tissues and that methylation of the p16(INK4) promoter may, in part, account for the loss of p16(INK4) expression.     

Hypermethylation-associated inactivation of p14(ARF) is independent of p16(INK4a) methylation and p53 mutational status

The INK4a/ARF locus encodes two cell cycle-regulatory proteins, p16INK4a andp14ARF, which share an exon using different reading frames. p14ARF antagonizes MDM2-dependent p53 degradation. However, no point mutations in p14ARF not altering p16INK4a have been described in primary tumors. We report that p14ARF is epigenetically inactivated in several colorectal cell lines, and its expression is restored by treatment with demethylating agents. In primary colorectal carcinomas, p14ARF promoter hypermethylation was found in 31 of 110 (28%) of the tumors and observed in 13 of 41 (32%) colorectal adenomas but was not present in any normal tissues. p14ARF methylation appears in the context of an adjacent unmethylated p16INK4a promoter in 16 of 31 (52%) of the carcinomas methylated at p14ARF. Although p14ARF hypermethylation was slightly overrepresented in tumors with wild-type p53 compared to tumors harboring p53 mutations [19 of 55 (34%) versus 12 of 55 (22%)], this difference did not reach statistical significance. p14ARF aberrant methylation was not related to the presence of K-ras mutations. Our results demonstrate that p14ARF promoter hypermethylation is frequent in colorectal cancer and occurs independently of the p16INK4a methylation status and only marginally in relation to the p53 mutational status.     

SRY-box 17基因在食管鳞状细胞癌中异常甲基化及表达的研究

目的:检测食管磷癌(esophageal squamous cell cancer,ESCC)细胞株及组织标本中Wnt通路相关因子SRY-box 17基因的甲基化状态及表达情况,探讨其与食管鳞癌发生的相关性.方法:分别采用甲基化特异性-PCR(methylation specific-PCR,MSP)和RT-PCR的方法检测食管癌细胞株TE1、TE13及109例食管鳞癌及相应癌旁非肿瘤组织中SRY-box 17基因的甲基化状态及mRNA表达情况,并分析其与Wnit通路中心因子β-catenin蛋白表达的关系.结果:在食管癌细胞株TE1和TE13中,SRY-box 17基因mRNA均呈阴性或弱阳性表达,用甲基化抑制剂5-氮-2’-脱氧胞苷(5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine,5-Aza-dC)处理后,其mRNA全部恢复阳性表达;MSP检测结果显示,在食管癌细胞株中SRY-box 17基因均呈高甲基化状态;在食管癌组织标本中,SRY-box17基因的甲基率为89.0％ (97/109),明显高于癌旁组织的53.2％ (58/109)(P＜0.01);癌组织中SRY-box 17基因的甲基化率在Ⅲ和Ⅳ期肿瘤患者中明显高于Ⅰ和Ⅱ期患者(P＜0.05),而该基因的甲基化率与肿瘤患者的组织学分级无相关性;在癌组织中该SRY-box17mRNA的阳性表达率为28.4％(31/109),明显低于癌旁组织(P＜0.01).其mRNA表达的缺失率及通路中心因子β-catenin蛋白的异质表达率均与该基因的甲基化状态有相关性(P＜0.05).结论:食管鳞癌组织及细胞株中SRY-box 17基因均呈高甲基化状态,该基因的高甲基化可能是引起mRNA表达下调的重要机制之一,并可能通过Wnt/β-catenin信号转导通路的激活在食管癌的发生、发展中具有重要作用;对该基因的甲基化检测可能对食管癌的预后判断有一定的临床指导意义.