胃癌患者血清RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化检测

Ras相关结构域家族1A（RASSF1A）基因是近年发现的新型抑癌基因，其启动子区甲基化可能与胃肠道肿瘤的发生、发展密切相关。目的：检测胃癌患者血清RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化情况，探讨其在胃癌早期诊断和预后评估中的可能作用。方法：以甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）检测47例胃腺癌患者、30例胃良性病变患者和30名健康对照者的血清RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化情况，其中16例胃腺癌患者同时留取手术切除癌组织、癌旁组织标本以及术前、术后血标本行对照研究。结果：胃腺癌患者血清RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化率为34．0％（16／47），显著高于胃良性病变患者（3.3％，1／30）和健康对照者（0％）（P〈0．01）。16例胃腺癌组织中5例（31．2％）检测到RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化，其中4例（80．0％）术前、术后血清标本均检测到RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化。血清RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化与胃癌患者性别、年龄、肿瘤分化程度、有无转移以及血清癌胚抗原（CEA）水平均无相关性。结论：血清RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化检测可望为胃癌的早期诊断和预后判断提供依据。     

Detection of RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in serum from gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients

AIM：To evaluate the diagnostic role of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma.
METHODS：Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction （MSPCR） was used to examine the promoter methylation status of the serum RASSF1A gene in 47 gastric adenocarcinoma patients, 45 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, 60 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease （30 with benign gastric disease and 30 with benign colorectal disease）, and 30 healthy donor controls. Apaired study of RASSF1A promoter methylation status in primary tumor, adjacent normal tissue, and postopertive serum were conducted in 25 gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients who later were underwent surgical therapy.
RESULTS：The frequencies of detection of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric （34.0%） and colorectal （28.9%） adenocarcinoma patients were significantly higher than those in patients with benign gastric （3.3%） or colorectal （6.7%） disease or in healthy donors （0%） （P 〈 0.01）. The methylation status of RASSF1A promoter in serum samples was consistent with that in paired primary tumors, and the MSPCR results for RASSF1A promoter methylation status in paired preoperative samples were consistent with those in postoperative serum samples. The serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation did not correlate with patient sex, age, tumor differentiation grade, surgical therapy, or serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. Although the serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation frequency tended to be higher in patients with distant metastases, there was no correlation between methylation status and metastasis.
CONCLUSION：Aberrant CpG island methylation within the promoter region of RASSF1A is a promising biomarker for gastric and colorectal cancer.     

Detection of RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in serum from gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic role of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma.METHODS: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSPCR) was used to examine the promoter methylation status of the serum RASSF1A gene in 47 gastric adenocarcinoma patients, 45 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, 60 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease (30 with benign gastric disease and 30 with benign colorectal disease), and 30 healthy donor controls. A paired study of RASSF1A promoter methylation status in primary tumor, adjacent normal tissue, and postoperative serum were conducted in 25 gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients who later were underwent surgical therapy.RESULTS: The frequencies of detection of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric (34.0%)and colorectal (28.9%) adenocarcinoma patients were significantly higher than those in patients with benign gastric (3.3%) or colorectal (6.7%) disease or in healthy donors (0%) (P ＜ 0.01). The methylation status of RASSF1A promoter in serum samples was consistent with that in paired primary tumors, and the MSPCR results for RASSF1A promoter methylation status in paired preoperative samples were consistent with those in postoperative serum samples. The serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation did not correlate with patient sex, age, tumor differentiation grade, surgical therapy,or serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. Although the serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation frequency tended to be higher in patients with distant metastases,there was no correlation between methylation status and metastasis.CONCLUSION: Aberrant CpG island methylation within the promoter region of RASSF1A is a promising biomarker for gastric and colorectal cancer.     

Frequent loss of chromosome 3p and hypermethylation of RASSF1A in cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cholangiocarcinoma comprises 5-20% of all primary malignant tumors of the liver. However, the lack of information about the genetic basis of cholangiocarcinoma has impeded characterization and understanding of its biological behavior. METHODS: In this study, genome-wide aberrations in 13 cases of cholangiocarcinoma were examined by the molecular cytogenetic technique, comparative genomic hybridization. RESULTS: Frequent gains of 1q, 3q, 8q, 15q and 17q, and common losses on 3p, 4q, 6q, 9p, 17p and 18q were found. The finding of common chromosome 3p loss (approximately 40%) with a minimal deleted region of 3p13-p21 has prompted our further investigation on the tumor suppressor gene RASSF1A, located at 3p21.3. Using bisulphite modification followed by methyl-specific PCR, a high incidence of methylated RASSF1A promoter region was detected in our current series (9/13 cases; 69%). Further expression analysis on the nine cases with promoter hypermethylation indicated much reduced RASSF1A expression compared to normal livers. CONCLUSIONS: Our current molecular cytogenetic investigation on primary cholangiocarcinoma provided overall karyotypic information and represents the first report on the methylation status of RASSF1A in cholangiocarcinoma. The high incidence of 3p loss and RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation detected may have implications for this tumor suppressor gene in the malignant progression of cholangiocarcinoma.     

多种抑癌基因在食管鳞状细胞癌中的甲基化状态及其临床意义

抑癌基因甲基化与食管癌相关,目前多种抑癌基因与肿瘤家族史相关性的报道少见。目的：研究多种抑癌基因在食管鳞状细胞癌（ESCC）中的甲基化状态及其临床意义。方法：选取2010年2～7月浙江省肿瘤医院76例ESCC患者。应用MSP技术检测肿瘤组织和相应癌旁正常组织中APC、RARl32、CDHl、p16…、RASSFlA等5个抑癌基因的甲基化状态,并分析抑癌基因甲基化状态与肿瘤家族史的关系及其对预后的影响。结果：ESCC组织APC、RARe2、CDHl、p16慨、RASSFlA的甲基化率均显著高于相应癌旁正常组织（P〈0．05）。ESCC组织中APC、RARl32、CDHl、RASSFlA甲基化与肿瘤家族史相关（P〈0．05）：CDHl、RASSFlA甲基化患者的生存期明显低于非甲基化患者（P-0．015、P=0．016）。结论：ESCC患者存在抑癌基因APC、RARe2、CDHl、p16№、RASSFlA高甲基化;且APC、RARe2、CDHl、RASSFlA甲基化与肿瘤家族史显著相关,CDHl、RASSFlA甲基化患者的预后可能较差。     

骨肉瘤组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化状态观察及意义

目的 观察骨肉瘤组织中Ras相关区域家族1A(RASSF1A)基因启动子区域的甲基化状态,并探讨其临床意义.方法 应用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)技术检测30例骨肉瘤组织及瘤旁组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区域的甲基化状态.结果 骨肉瘤组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区域发生甲基化14例(46.7％),瘤旁组织中4例(13.3％),两者比较,P＜0.05.RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化与骨肉瘤患者的性别、年龄及血清碱性磷酸酶水平有关(P均＜0.05).结论 骨肉瘤组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化发生率高,其可能在骨肉瘤的发生发展中发挥重要作用.     

RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化在贲门腺癌、食管下段鳞癌组织中的变化及临床意义

目的:比较RASSF1A基因甲基化在贲门腺癌、食管下段鳞癌不同病理阶段组织中的共性和差异.方法:33例贲门腺癌和36例食管下段鳞癌手术切除标本纳入本研究,每例标本选取癌组织,癌旁不典型增生组织(距癌3-5 cm),癌旁正常组织(距癌>5 cm)组织各1块,采用甲基化特异性PCR检测RASSF1A基因启动子区的甲基化情况...     

High frequency of promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A in tumor and plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the presence of ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) promoter methylation in the tumor tissues and plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to detect RASSF1A methylation in DNA extracted from HCC tumors and paired plasma samples of 40 patients. The association of RASSF1A hypermethylation in tumor and plasma DNA of HCC patients with clinicopathological characteristics was also analyzed. RESULTS: RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation was detected in 37 of the 40 HCC tissues (92.5%). Of the paired plasma from the 40 HCC patients, aberrant methylation was detected in 17 (42.5%). No RASSF1A methylation was detected in the plasma in the absence of methylation in the corresponding tumor. The presence of RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in plasma DNA was found to associate with HCC size of > or =4 cm (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation occurred at a high frequency in HCC. The aberrant methylation was also detectable in over 40% of matched plasma. The latter should be evaluated as a screening tool and/or prognosticator of HCC patients.     

非小细胞肺癌患者血清Ras相关区域家族1A基因异常甲基化检测及意义

目的 探讨非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)患者血清中Ras相关区域家族1A(Ras association domain family 1A,RASSF1A)基因启动子区域甲基化状况及其临床意义.方法 基因测序法检测62例NSCLC患者、30例肺部良性疾病患者和16名健康体检者血清中RASSF1A启动子区域甲基化状况,并分析其与临床特征的关系.结果 RASSF1A甲基化检出率在NSCLC患者为45.16%(28/62),而肺部良性疾病患者和健康体检者血清未检出(P<0.05).NSCLC患者血清RASSF1A基因甲基化率在Ⅲ～Ⅳ期高于Ⅰ～Ⅱ期,低、未分化组高于高、中分化组(P <0.05),与年龄、性别、吸烟指数、病理类型无关.结论 RASSF1A异常甲基化可能在NSCLC发生、发展中起重要作用,有望成为NSCLC辅助诊断和预后判断的分子标记.     

Aberrant methylation of the negative regulators RASSFIA, SHP-1 and SOCS-1 in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia

Mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK/RAS) signalling pathway frequently provide a proliferative signal in myeloid malignancies. However, the role of RASSF1A, SHP-1 and SOCS-1, negative regulators of RTK/RAS signalling, has not been extensively investigated in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This study employed methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) to determine if aberrant promotor methylation of RASSF1A, SHP-1 and SOCS-1 is involved in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies. Patients with MDS (n = 107), AML (n = 154) and juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML, n = 5) were investigated, together with 15 normal controls. Primers were located in the promotor region of each gene as well as within exon 2 of SOCS-1. Methylation of RASSF1A was found in five of 55 (9%) MDS cases, but not in any of 57 AML cases studied. RASSF1A methylation was present in one case (20%) of JMML. SHP-1 methylation was present in 13 of 121 (11%) AML cases but was not found in MDS or JMML. SOCS-1 promoter methylation was present in eight of 74 (11%) MDS patients but was not seen in JMML or AML. Importantly, RAS mutations and RASSF1A and SOCS-1 methylation were mutually exclusive indicating that approximately 30% of MDS cases had a defect of the RTK/RAS pathway and its negative regulation. Finally, SOCS-1 exon 2 methylation may not be pathogenetically relevant, since it was detected in samples from normal individuals and did not correlate with promotor methylation.     

Aberrant p16 methylation, a possible epigenetic risk factor in familial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: Detection of methylation in the p16 gene, an inhibitor of cyclin D-dependent protein kinase, as a new tumor marker for early detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in DNA derived from blood and serum. METHOD: A large family with clustering of ESCC was assessed in Khorasan province in northeastern Iran. The family had three histologically proven cases of ESCC in two consecutive generations and several other deceased cases with histories of ESCC. DNA from blood of 28 living family members in three consecutive generations, 30 sporadic ESCC cases (from serum, blood, and tumor tissues), and 30 healthy volunteers (from blood) were examined for the methylation status of p16 promoter using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). RESULTS: Aberrant p16 promoter methylation was found in 64.3% (n = 28) of ESCC family members and none (n = 30) of our normal volunteers. Five of the 28 family members with esophageal cancer symptoms had negative endoscopy results for ESCC, while four of these members had p16 hypermethylation in their blood. The family members with negative endoscopy and positive p16 promoter methylation are being monitored closely for signs of ESCC development through regular check-ups and chromoendoscopies. In sporadic ESCC in northeastern Iran, 73.3% (n = 30) of tumor tissue samples had p16 hypermethylation. Serum and blood samples from the same patients showed p16 hypermethylation in 26.6% and 43.3% of the samples, respectively. CONCLUSION: Aberrant p16 methylation may be a valuable diagnostic tool as a tumor marker for the early identification of individuals in high risk ESCC families.     

胰腺癌细胞系BxPC3及胰腺癌组织Ras相关区域家族1A启动子CpG岛的甲基化状态

目的 检测Ras相关区域家族1A(Ras association domain family 1A,RASSF1A)在胰腺癌细胞株BxPC3及胰腺癌组织中的甲基化状态,探讨其启动子异常甲基化在胰腺癌发病机制中的可能作用.方法 采用结合重亚硫酸盐的限制性内切酶法(combined bisulfite restriction analysis,COBRA)检测胰腺癌细胞株BxPC3、5例正常胰腺组织、13对胰腺癌及相应癌旁正常胰腺组织中RASSF1A启动子CpG岛的甲基化状态,计算其甲基化率.以甲基化酶抑制剂5-Aza-dC(5-Aza-2-deoxycitydine)处理BxPC3,观察处理前后甲基化率变化情况及RASSF1A mRNA表达变化.结果 在BxPC3细胞株中,RASSF1A启动子的CpG岛甲基化率为62.90%;正常胰腺、癌旁及癌组织中平均分别为9.14%、53.79%和55.82%.与正常胰腺组织相比,胰腺癌旁及癌组织的RASSF1A启动子甲基化率明显增高(P值<0.01),而癌旁及癌组织之间无明显差异(P>0.05).BxPC3经5-Aza-dC处理后,RASSF1A的CpG岛甲基化率显著下降至42.50%(P<0.05),同时RASSF1A mRNA表达增强.结论 RASSF1A启动子CpG岛异常甲基化是胰腺癌发生发展中的早期事件,可能参与胰腺癌的发病过程.     

Association of DNA methylation and epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A and beta-catenin with metastasis in small bowel carcinoid tumors

We analyzed promoter methylation of RASSF1A, CTNNB1, CDH1, LAMB3, LAMC2, RUNX3, NORE1A, and CAV1 using methylation-specific PCR in 33 cases of small bowel carcinoid with both matched primary and metastatic tumors. The methylation status of RASSF1A and CTNNB1 were also determined in six primary appendiceal carcinoid tumors. Two neuroendocrine cell lines, NCI-H727 and HTB-119, were analyzed for promoter methylation. Immunohistochemical analyses for RASSF1A and beta-catenin were performed in 28 matched primary and metastatic tumors. Western blot analysis for RASSF1A and beta-catenin was also performed. Normal enterochromaffin cells were unmethylated in all eight genes examined. RASSF1A and CTNNB1 were unmethylated in appendiceal carcinoids. Methylation of RASSF1A and CTNNB1 promoters was more frequent in metastatic compared to primary tumors (p=0.013 and 0.004, respectively). The NCI-H727 and HTB-119 cells lines were methylated in the RASSF1A promoter region, and after treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA), RASSF1A mRNA was expressed in both cell lines. Western blot results for RASSF1A and beta-catenin supported the methylation-specific PCR findings. The other six genes did not show significant differences. These results suggest that increased methylation of RASSF1A and CTNNB1 may play important roles in progression and metastasis of small bowel carcinoid tumors.     

肺癌患者Ras相关区域家族1A基因启动子异常甲基化的检测

目的探讨肺癌组织和外周血浆、支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中Ras相关区域家族1A(RASSF1A)基因启动子异常甲基化状况及其在肺癌诊断中的价值。方法用甲基化特异PCR方法对肺癌患者癌组织、癌旁组织及相应血浆、BALF进行RASSF1A异常甲基化检测。结果45例肺癌组织中,RASSF1A基因启动子异常甲基化率为53.33%(24/45),相应血浆中RASSF1A的甲基化检出率为28.89%(13/45),BALF检出率为42.22%(19/45),而癌旁组织中的RASSF1A启动子甲基化检出率为13.04%(3/23)、正常对照血浆、非肺癌患者BALF中未检出甲基化,只检出未甲基化的RASSF1A。血浆、BALF中甲基化改变与肿瘤组织甲基化状况显著相关(P<0.01);但与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、恶性程度、肿瘤分类的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论血浆、BALF中RASSF1A基因异常甲基化改变的检测在肺癌的特异诊断等方面有一定的应用价值。     

Promoter methylation and loss of coding exons of the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas.

AIMS: About 10-30% of primary liver cancers represent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (IHCC). Since chromosomal losses of 3p are detectable in about 40% of cholangiocarcinomas our study aimed at the identification of mechanisms leading to functional deletion of tumor suppressor genes in this region. Our efforts focussed on genomic losses and epigenetic inactivation of two tumor suppressor genes, the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) and the ras association domain family 1 (RASSF1A) genes, both located on the short arm of chromosome 3. METHODS: Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and combined bisulfite-dependent restriction analysis (COBRA) were applied to detect epigenetic silencing of gene promoters. Genomic duplex PCR was used to identify exon losses of the FHIT gene. Nineteen paraffin-embedded samples of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas were studied. RESULTS: Here we report for the first time that in addition to frequent losses of the exons 5 and 6, hypermethylation of the FHIT promoter occured in a significant portion of IHCC. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) detected epigenetic inactivation of the FHIT/FRA3B locus in 8 of 19 (42%) cases. Combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) revealed that high levels of methylated FHIT promoter sequences were present in 6 of the 8 methylation positive samples. In agreement with previous reports MSP identified hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene in 13 of 19 (68%) IHCC specimens examined. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic silencing of the FHIT tumor suppressor gene is a novel inactivation mechanism to be considered in the development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. However, a statistically significant inverse correlation between K-Ras activation and RASSF1A inactivation was not found.     

胃癌组织RASSF1A甲基化对其mRNA及蛋白表达的影响

目的研究RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化对胃癌组织中RASSF1AmRNA及蛋白表达的影响。方法RT-PCR方法检测54例胃癌及癌旁正常组织RASSF1AmRNA表达,甲基化特异性PCR方法检测RASSF1A启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态;Westernblot方法检测20例胃癌及癌旁正常组织中RASSF1A蛋白表达。结果(1)RASSF1AmRNA和蛋白表达水平在胃癌组织中明显低于癌旁正常组织(A值分别为0·2589±0·2407比0·5448±0·2971,P<0·0001;0·1874±0·0737比0·6654±0·2201,P<0·0001);(2)RASSF1A在胃癌组织和正常组织中的甲基化频率分别为66·7%和14·8%,差异有统计学意义(P<0·0001);(3)在胃癌组织中,甲基化组RASSF1AmRNA的表达明显低于非甲基化组(0·1384±0·1142比0·5018±0·2463,P<0·0001)。结论胃癌组织RASSF1AmRNA和蛋白表达缺失或低下,与其启动子甲基化程度增高显著相关。     

The Ras effectors NORE1A and RASSF1A are frequently inactivated in pheochromocytoma and abdominal paraganglioma

NORE1A (RASSF5) and RASSF1A are newly described Ras effectors with tumour suppressor functions. Both molecules are frequently inactivated in various cancers. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential involvement of NORE1A and RASSF1A in pheochromocytoma and abdominal paraganglioma tumorigenesis. A panel of 54 primary tumours was analysed for NORE1A and RASSF1A mRNA expression by TaqMan quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, NORE1A and RASSF1A promoter methylation was assessed by combined bisulphite restriction endonuclease assay and methylation-sensitive Pyrosequencing respectively. The anti-tumorigenic role of NORE1A was functionally investigated in Nore1A-transfected PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells by fluorescent inhibition of caspase activity and soft agar assays. Significantly suppressed NORE1A and RASSF1A mRNA levels were detected in primary tumours compared with normal adrenal medulla (P<0.001). Methylation of the NORE1A promoter was not observed in primary tumours. On the other hand, 9% (5/54) of the primary tumours examined showed RASSF1A promoter methylation greater than 20% as detected by Pyrosequencing. Methylation of the RASSF1A promoter was significantly associated with malignant behaviour (P<0.05). Transient expression of Nore1a resulted in enhanced apoptosis and impaired colony formation in soft agar. Our study provides evidence that NORE1A and RASSF1A are frequently suppressed in pheochromocytoma and abdominal paraganglioma. Silencing of NORE1A contributes to the transformed phenotype in these tumours.