上皮性卵巢肿瘤RASSF1A基因甲基化与蛋白表达的关系及意义

目的：检测上皮性卵巢肿瘤中RASSF1A基因启动子CpG岛的甲基化状态,并探讨基因异常甲基化与蛋白表达的关系及其意义。方法：运用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）方法对62例上皮性卵巢癌、21例交界性囊腺瘤及30例良性囊腺瘤的RASSF1A基因启动子甲基化状态进行检测,免疫组化S-P法检测上述标本中RASSF1A蛋白表达,并结合肿瘤生物学行为进行分析。结果：上皮性卵巢癌组织、卵巢交界性囊腺瘤组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化率（58.06%、42.85%）显著高于卵巢良性囊腺瘤组织（13.33%）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化与上皮性卵巢癌的细胞分化程度和临床分期密切相关（P〈0.05）而与组织类型和患者年龄及绝经与否无相关性（P〉0.05）;RASSF1A基因甲基化与其蛋白表达下降一致。结论：卵巢癌组织中存在RASSF1A基因启动子CpG岛的异常甲基化,可能和该蛋白表达缺失的主要原因,是导致该基因失活的重要机制之一。     

RASSF1A promoter region CpG island hypermethylation in phaeochromocytomas and neuroblastoma tumours.

Deletions of chromosome 3p are frequent in many types of neoplasia including neural crest tumours such as neuroblastoma (NB) and phaeochromocytoma. Recently we isolated several candidate tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) from a 120 kb critical interval at 3p21.3 defined by overlapping homozygous deletions in lung and breast tumour lines. Although mutation analysis of candidate TSGs in lung and breast cancers revealed only rare mutations, expression of one of the genes (RASSF1A) was absent in the majority of lung tumour cell lines analysed. Subsequently methylation of a CpG island in the promoter region of RASSF1A was demonstrated in a majority of small cell lung carcinomas and to a lesser extent in non-small cell lung carcinomas. To investigate the role of 3p TSGs in neural crest tumours, we (a) analysed phaeochromocytomas for 3p allele loss (n=41) and RASSF1A methylation (n=23) and (b) investigated 67 neuroblastomas for RASSF1A inactivation. 46% of phaeochromocytomas showed 3p allele loss (38.5% at 3p21.3). RASSF1A promoter region hypermethylation was found in 22% (5/23) of sporadic phaeochromocytomas and in 55% (37/67) of neuroblastomas analysed but RASSF1A mutations were not identified. In two neuroblastoma cell lines, methylation of RASSF1A correlated with loss of RASSF1A expression and RASSF1A expression was restored after treatment with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine. As frequent methylation of the CASP8 gene has also been reported in neuroblastoma, we investigated whether RASSF1A and CASP8 methylation were independent or related events. CASP8 methylation was detected in 56% of neuroblastomas with RASSF1A methylation and 17% without RASSF1A methylation (P=0.0031). These results indicate that (a) RASSF1A inactivation by hypermethylation is a frequent event in neural crest tumorigenesis, particularly neuroblastoma, and that RASSF1A is a candidate 3p21.3 neuroblastoma TSG and (b) a subset of neuroblastomas may be characterized by a CpG island methylator phenotype.     

上皮性卵巢肿瘤RASSF1A基因甲基化与蛋白表达的关系及意义

目的:检测上皮性卵巢肿瘤中RASSF1A基因启动子CpG岛的甲基化状态,并探讨基因异常甲基化与蛋白表达的关系及其意义。方法:运用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)方法对62例上皮性卵巢癌、21例交界性囊腺瘤及30例良性囊腺瘤的RASSF1A基因启动子甲基化状态进行检测,免疫组化S-P法检测上述标本中RASSF1A蛋白表达,并结合肿瘤生物学行为进行分析。结果:上皮性卵巢癌组织、卵巢交界性囊腺瘤组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化率(58.06%、42.85%)显著高于卵巢良性囊腺瘤组织(13.33%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化与上皮性卵巢癌的细胞分化程度和临床分期密切相关(P<0.05)而与组织类型和患者年龄及绝经与否无相关性(P>0.05);RASSF1A基因甲基化与其蛋白表达下降一致。结论:卵巢癌组织中存在RASSF1A基因启动子CpG岛的异常甲基化,可能和该蛋白表达缺失的主要原因,是导致该基因失活的重要机制之一。     

Frequent RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation and K-ras mutations in pancreatic carcinoma

Recently, we have characterized the Ras association domain family 1A gene (RASSF1A) at the segment 3p21.3, which is frequently lost in variety of human cancers and epigenetically inactivated in many types of primary tumors, such as lung, breast, kidney, prostate and thyroid carcinomas. Here, we investigated the methylation status of the RASSF1A CpG island promoter in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. RASSF1A hypermethylation was detected in 29 out of 45 (64%) primary adenocarcinomas, in 10 out of 12 (83%) endocrine tumors and in eight out of 18 (44%) pancreatitis samples. In seven out of eight pancreas cancer cell lines, RASSF1A was silenced and was retranscribed after treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Additionally, we analysed the aberrant methylation frequency of cell cycle inhibitor p16(INK4a) and K-ras gene mutations in the pancreatic samples. p16 inactivation was detected in 43% of adenocarcinomas, in 17% of neuroendocrine tumors, in 18% of pancreatitis and in 63% of pancreas cancer cell lines. K-ras mutations were detected in 16 out of 45 (36%) primary adenocarcinomas. Pancreatic adenocarcinomas with K-ras mutation have significantly less RASSF1A methylation and vice versa (P=0.001, chi(2) test). In conclusion, our data indicate that inactivation of the RASSF1A gene is a frequent event in pancreatic cancer and suggest an inverse correlation between RASSF1A silencing and K-ras activation.     

Frequent occurrence of RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation and merkel cell polyomavirus in merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is one of the most aggressive cancers of the skin. It has recently been reported that integration of a Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in receptor tyrosine phosphates type G (PTPRG) gene occurs in MCC, and that viral infections are associated with epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in cancer. To examine whether a correlation between TSG inactivation and viral infection can be found in MCC, we investigated the promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A, TP73, PTPRG, FHIT, and CDKN2A and the presence of MCPyV and SV40 in 98 MCC by PCR. Hypermethylation of RASSF1A was frequently found in 42 of 83 (51%) of MCC. Methylation of CDKN2A was present in 9 of 41 (22%) of MCC. Hypermethylation of TP73 (0%), PTPRG (4%), and FHIT (0%) was infrequent in MCC. Interestingly, MCPyV was found in 90 of 98 (92%) MCC, however, no SV40 signal was detected. No correlation between TSG hypermethylation and viral infection was found. Our results show frequent hypermethylation of RASSF1A and the presence of MCPyV in primary MCC, and that these events may contribute to the pathogenesis of MCC. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Frequent promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A and CASP8 in neuroblastoma

Background  

Epigenetic alterations and loss of heterozygosity are mechanisms of tumor suppressor gene inactivation. A new carcinogenic pathway, targeting the RAS effectors has recently been documented. RASSF1A, on 3p21.3, and NORE1A, on 1q32.1, are among the most important, representative RAS effectors.     

胃癌E-cadherin基因启动子CpG岛甲基化的研究

背景与目的:目前认为CpG岛甲基化导致转录抑制是恶性肿瘤发生的重要机制之一。E-cadherin能抑制肿瘤细胞的浸润和转移,被公认为是浸润、转移抑制基因。低分化胃癌常表现有E-cadherin基因失活。我们通过检测胃癌及癌旁组织中E-cadherin基因启动子CpG岛甲基化水平,初步探讨胃癌的发病机制。方法:采用特异性甲基化PCR(MSP)法检测51例胃癌组织及37例癌旁组织中的E-cadherin基因启动子CpG岛甲基化水平,采用免疫组织化学染色法检测E-cadherin表达。结果:健康对照组织中未检测到CpG岛甲基化,4例(10.8%)癌旁组织检测到CpG岛甲基化,32例(62.7%)胃癌组织中检测到CpG岛甲基化。低分化腺癌(72.2%,26/36)CpG岛甲基化显著高于高分化腺癌(33.3%,6/15)(P<0.01),T1/T2期(55.6%,10/18)与T3/T4期胃癌(66.7%,22/33)的CpG岛甲基化率无显著性差异(P>0.05)。32例CpG岛甲基化胃癌中27例(84.5%)E-cadherin表达下调,19例非甲基化胃癌中5例(26.3%)E-cadherin表达下调。未发现E-cadherin基因CpG岛甲基化与幽门螺杆菌感染有关。结论:胃癌、尤其是低分化腺癌广泛存在E-cadherin基因启动子CpG岛甲基化,启动子CpG岛甲基化可能参与胃癌的早期过程,E-cadherin基因CpG岛甲基化与幽门螺杆菌感染无相关关系。     

Frequent RASSF1A tumour suppressor gene promoter methylation in Wilms' tumour and colorectal cancer

The 3p21.3 tumour suppressor gene (TSG) RASSF1A is inactivated predominantly by promoter methylation and rarely by somatic mutations. Recently we demonstrated that epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A is frequent in both clear cell and papillary adult renal cell carcinomas (even though 3p21.3 allele loss is rare in papillary tumours). Wilms' tumour is the most common childhood kidney tumour, but relatively little is known about its molecular pathogenesis. Thus TSGs such as WT1, p16(CDKN2a) and p53 are inactivated in only a minority of cases. In view of the involvement of RASSF1A in adult renal cancers we investigated RASSF1A as a candidate Wilms' TSG. We detected RASSF1A hypermethylation in 21 of 39 (54%) primary Wilms' tumours. 3p21.3 allele loss was not detected in nine informative Wilms' tumours (five with RASSF1A methylation). In contrast to RASSF1A, only a minority (10.3%) of Wilms' tumours demonstrated p16 promoter methylation. As chromosome 3p allele loss is frequent in colorectal cancer, we proceeded to investigate RASSF1A promoter methylation in colorectal cancer and detected RASSF1A methylation in 80% (4/5) colorectal cancer cell lines and 45% (13/29) primary colorectal cancers. There was no correlation between RASSF1A and p16 methylation in colorectal cancer. We have demonstrated that RASSF1A inactivation is the most frequent genetic or epigenetic event yet reported in Wilms' tumourigenesis and that allelotyping studies may fail to identify regions containing important TSGs.     

Frequent epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A and BLU genes located within the critical 3p21.3 region in gliomas

RASSF1A is a major tumor suppressor gene located at 3p21.3. We investigated the role of aberrant promoter region hypermethylation of RASSF1A in a large series of adult gliomas. RASSF1A was frequently methylated in both primary tumors (36/63; 57%) and tumor cell lines (7/7; 100%). Hypermethylation of RASSF1A in glioma cell lines correlated with loss of expression and treatment with a demethylating agent-reactivated RASSF1A gene expression. Furthermore, re-expression of RASSF1A suppressed the growth of glioma cell line H4 in vitro. Next, we investigated whether other members of the RASSF gene family were also inactivated by methylation. NORE1B and RASSF3 were not methylated in gliomas, while NORE1A and RASSF5/AD037 demonstrated methylation in glioma cell lines but not in primary tumors. We then investigated the methylation status of three other candidate 3p21.3 tumor suppressor genes. CACNA2D2 and SEMA3B were not frequently methylated, but the BLU gene located just centromeric to RASSF1 was frequently methylated in glioma cell lines (7/7) and in 80% (35/44) of glioma tumors. In these tumor cell lines, BLU expression was restored after treatment with a demethylating agent. Loss of BLU gene expression in glioma tumors correlated with BLU methylation. There was no association between RASSF1A and BLU methylation. RASSF1A methylation increased with tumor grade, while BLU methylation was seen at similar frequencies in all grades. Our data implicate RASSF1A and BLU promoter methylation in the pathogenesis of adult gliomas, while other RASSF family members and CACNA2D2 and SEMA3B appear to have only minor roles. In addition, RASSF1A and BLU methylation appear to be independent and specific events and not due to region-wide changes in DNA methylation.     

食管癌中DNA修复基因MGMT启动子区CpG岛过甲基化研究

目的：探索O~0-甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶(O~6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase,MGMT)基因启动子区过甲基化状态与食管癌的关系。方法：采用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应(methylation-specific PCR,MSP)分析食管癌、癌旁和正常食管黏膜细胞中MGMT基因启动子区过甲基化状态。用免疫组织化学SP法检测上述组织中MGMT蛋白表达情况。结果：76例食管癌组织中有26例(34.2%)MGMT基因启动子过甲基化,相应的癌旁组织中有8例发生甲基化,而正常食管黏膜细胞中均无甲基化。所有甲基化的癌组织中均无MGMT蛋白表达,而所有非甲基化的癌组织、相应癌旁组织和8例正常组织中均有MGMT蛋白表达。结论：MGMT基因启动子区过甲基化而使其蛋白表达缺失,可能是食管癌发生的重要因素。     

Aberrant promoter hypermethylation and silencing of the critical 3p21 tumour suppressor gene, RASSF1A, in Chinese oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

3p21 is an important locus harbouring critical tumour suppressor genes (TSG), which are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple tumours, including oesophageal carcinoma. RASSF1A is a 3p21.3 candidate TSG frequently inactivated by promoter methylation in multiple tumours. We investigated RASSF1A promoter methylation and gene expression in Chinese oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to compare it to data from Japanese patients. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) showed that RASSF1A was partially methylated in 3/7 (43%) cell lines; 22/64 (34%) primary tumours and 3/64 (5%) corresponding non-tumour samples; and was not methylated in 2 immortalized normal oesophageal epithelial cell lines and 6 normal oesophageal epithelium samples. Bisulfite genome sequencing confirmed the MSP results. Promoter hypermethylation correlated well with RASSF1A mRNA down-regulation. Treatment of cell lines with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine activated RASSF1A mRNA expression along with promoter demethylation. RASSF1A hypermethylation in the Chinese cohort was much lower than in a published report of Japanese ESCC patients (52%) and cell lines (74%). Our own analysis of Japanese ESCC cell lines for direct comparison also detected a high frequency of RASSF1A hypermethylation (8/10; 80%) and high levels of hypermethylation at each CpG site. No significant association between RASSF1A hypermethylation and histological differentiation (p=0.953), tumour staging (p=0.117), or survival (p=0.7571) was found in Chinese ESCC, unlike the results of Japanese patients. The incidence of oesophageal cancer shows marked variation by geographic area and ethnic group; it is almost three times higher in China than in Japan, indicating possible different pathogenetic mechanisms. Our results show that RASSF1A hypermethylation in ESCC has epidemiological/ethnic differences, and suggest that Chinese ESCC may result from different pathogenetic mechanisms.