BRCA1基因启动子异常甲基化与散发性乳腺癌的关系

目的 探讨散发性乳腺癌BRCA1基因启动子异常甲基化状况及其与散发性乳腺癌关系。方法 用甲基化特异PCR（MSP）法对散发性乳腺癌病人癌组织、癌旁组织及乳腺纤维腺瘤组织进行BRCAl异常甲基化检测。结果 在58例散发性乳腺癌中有17例癌组织检出了BRCAl基因启动子异常甲基化，甲基化频率为29．3％（17／58），相应的癌旁组织及乳腺纤维腺瘤组织均只检出未甲基化的BRCAl。在组织分型中，浸润性导管癌与浸润性小叶癌无显著差异（P〉0．05），二者各自与髓样癌＋黏液腺癌有显著差异（P〈0．05）。有淋巴结转移的BRCA1基因启动子甲基化率高于无淋巴结转移组（P〈0．005）。BRCA1甲基化与散发性乳腺癌的肿瘤分级及病人绝经与否均无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论 在散发性乳腺癌中，BRCA1基因启动子具有很高的甲基化率，并与散发性乳腺癌的组织分型、恶性转移等方面有一定的关系。     

食管鳞癌组织p16基因调控区甲基化及其蛋白表达研究

目的探讨p16基因在食管癌变过程中表达缺失与其启动子区甲基化的关系。方法采用MSP免疫组化方法,检测环太行山地区45例食管鳞癌患者癌组织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异常41例（91．1％）,间变组织中表达异常38例（84．4％）,发生纯合型甲基化的组织分别为33例（73．3％）（癌组织）和32例（71．1％）（间变组织）,而其周围正常组织26例（57．8％）均发生了p16启动子区的杂合型甲基化。p16基因纯合型甲基化与癌组织、间变组织、p16蛋白表达缺失相关（P〈0．05）。结论该地区食管癌组织p16基因在癌前病变中p16启动子区即发生了纯合型甲基化、食管癌变的早期事件。p16基因启动子区甲基化可单独影响p16蛋白的正常表达。     

肺癌组织中RKIP基因启动子区甲基化状态观察

目的观察肺癌组织中Raf激酶抑制蛋白（RKIP）基因启动子区甲基化状态变化,探讨其与肺癌临床病理特征的关系。方法采用RT-PCR和甲基化特异性PCR法（MSP）分析肺癌及相应癌旁肺组织中RKIP基因表达情况及其启动子区甲基化状态。结果肺癌组织中RKIP基因启动子区甲基化率为45．8％（27／56）,明显高于癌旁肺组织的13．3％（2／56）,P〈0．05。所有甲基化的肺癌组织中RKIP基因均无表达。有淋巴结转移的43例肺癌组织中,27例RKIP基因启动子甲基化;无淋巴结转移的40例中,11例RKIP基因启动子甲基化（P〈0．05）。结论肺癌组织中RKIP基因失表达与其启动子区甲基化有关,这可能是肺癌发生发展以及转移的原因之一。     

死亡相关蛋白激酶基因高甲基化在胃癌形成过程中作用的初步研究

背景：DNA启动子区甲基化可导致肿瘤抑制基因表达沉默，在胃癌的发生、发展中发挥重要作用。目的：观察正常胃黏膜、慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠化生、异型增生和早期胃癌组织中死亡相关蛋白激酶（DAPK）基因启动子区甲基化状态，探讨其与胃癌发生、发展的关系。方法：以甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）检测20例正常胃黏膜、14例慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠化生、27例异型增生和16例早期胃癌组织中DAPK基因启动子区甲基化状态．并分析其与患者临床病理特征的关系。结果：早期胃癌组织中DAPK基因启动子区甲基化率显著高于正常胃黏膜、慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠化生和异型增生组织（43.8％对0％、7．1％和11．1％，P〈0．05），而后三者之间DAPK基因启动子区甲基化率无明显差异。DAPK基因启动子区甲基化与患者性别、年龄和病变部位均无关，与幽门螺杆菌（H.pylori）感染和血清癌胚抗原（CEA）水平显著相关（P〈0．05）。结论：DAPK基因启动子区高甲基化是胃癌发生的早期分子事件，在由慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠化生和异型增生进展至早期胃癌的过程中起重要作用。     

胃癌维甲酸信号通路相关基因启动子区协同高甲基化的研究

背景：启动子区高甲基化与胃癌中多种抑癌基因表达沉默密切相关。目的：探讨维甲酸信号通路相关基因维甲酸受体B（RAR13）、细胞维生素A结合蛋白1（CRBP1）和他扎罗汀诱导基因1（TIG1）启动子区高甲基化与胃癌的关系。方法：以甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）检测40例胃癌标本、10例正常胃黏膜标本和6株胃癌细胞株的RAR13、CRBPI和TIG1基因启动子区甲基化状态，分析i者甲基化状态的相关性及其与胃癌1晦床病理特征的关系。以逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）检测胃癌细胞株RAR13、CRBP1和TIG1mRNA表达。结果：40例胃癌组织的RAR13、CRBPI和TIG1基因甲基化率分别为45．0％、32．5％和57．5％，10例正常胃黏膜组织均未检测到上述基因甲基化（P〈0．05）。胃癌组织中RAR13的甲基化状态与CRBP1和TIG1的甲基化状态显著相关（P〈0．05），但三者的甲基化状态与胃癌临床病理特征无相关性。启动子区高甲基化胃癌细胞株相应基因mRNA表达缺失或减弱。结论：胃癌组织常发生维甲酸信号通路相关基因RAR13、CRBP1和TIG1启动子区高甲基化，高甲基化可能是相应基因转录失活的重要原因。     

胃癌组织中E—cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化状态观察

目的观察胃癌组织中E—cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化状态。方法采用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）技术检测54例胃癌及其癌旁正常组织中的E—cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化状态,并分析E-cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化状态与胃癌临床病理参数的关系。结果胃癌组织中的E-cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化发生频率为48．10％（26／54）,明显高于癌旁正常组织中的11．11％（6／54）。E—cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化频率与胃癌分化程度、病理类型、浸润深度以及淋巴结转移、临床分期有关（P均〈0．05）。结论胃癌组织中E-cadherin基因启动子异常甲基化频率较高,并与胃癌浸润、转移有关。     

APC基因异常甲基化在上皮性卵巢癌中的检测及临床意义

目的探讨结肠腺瘤性息、肉病基因（APC）异常甲基化在上皮性卵巢癌发生、发展中的作用及临床意义。方法采用甲基化特异性PCR法检测63例上皮性卵巢癌组织原发灶、41例相应的盆腹腔转移灶、10例癌旁卵巢组织及20例正常卵巢组织中APC基因启动子区甲基化状态。结果上皮性卵巢癌组织原发灶及相应的盆腹腔转移灶中APC基因启动子区异常甲基化发生率分别显著高于正常卵巢组织（P〈0．05）。APC基因启动子区甲基化与上皮性卵巢癌临床分期、分化程度及病理类型无关。结论APC基因启动子区异常甲基化与上皮性卵巢癌发生、发展密切相关。     

hMLH1基因高甲基化在胃癌发生、发展中的作用

基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化使许多基因失活，从而导致恶性肿瘤的发生和发展。目的：检测hMLHl基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化水平，探讨其胃癌发生、发展中的作用。方法：以甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）检测41例胃癌、40例癌前病变和38例对照组织中hMLHl基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态，并分析其与胃癌患者临床病理特征的关系。结果：胃癌组织中hMLHl基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化阳性率为34．1％，显著高于癌前病变组的5．0％和对照组的0％（P〈0．05）。hMLHl基因甲基化阳性率与胃癌患者的年龄和肿瘤浸润深度有关（阳性率分别为46．4％对7．7％和55．0％对14.3％，P〈0．05），与性别、肿瘤分化程度和淋巴结转移无关（阳性率分别为34．8％对33．3％、28．0％对43．8％和38．1％对30．0％）。结论：胃癌组织中存在hMLHl基因启动子区CpG岛高甲基化，可能与胃癌的发生、发展有关．且可能在老年胃癌患者的肿瘤发生过程中起重要作用。     

胃癌组织中E-cadherin、S100A2基因启动子区甲基化的临床意义

目的探讨胃癌组织中E-cadherin、S100A2基因启动子区甲基化的临床意义。方法采用甲基化特异性PCR方法,检测64例胃癌患者（胃癌组）病变组织及15例胃溃疡患者（对照组）正常胃组织中的E-cadherin、S100A2基因启动子区甲基化,分析二者与胃癌生物学特征的关系。结果胃癌组E-cadherin基因启动子区甲基化38例（59.38%）,S100A2基因启动子区甲基化36例（56.25%）;对照组分别为2、2例（13.3%、13.3%）。在胃癌不同大体分型、分化程度及淋巴结转移患者中,E-cadherin、S100A2基因启动子区甲基化率均有统计学差异（P〈0.05或〈0.01）。结论胃癌组织中的E-cadherin、S100A2基因启动子区呈高甲基化状态,甲基化状态与胃癌的分化、转移、侵袭有关。     

LMXlA基因启动子甲基化以及在胃癌发展中的临床意义

目的通过检测胃癌癌旁距离原发灶不同距离组织及胃癌原发灶LMXlA基因启动子区甲基化状态的差异,分析正常胃组织、癌前病变及癌组织中该基因甲基化的动态变化以及LMXlA基因甲基化与胃癌原发灶病理学的关系,探讨LMXlA基因启动子区甲基化在胃癌阶段性发生及进展中的作用及临床意义。方法采用甲基化特异性PCR法（MSP）检测距胃癌癌灶边缘1、3、5cm组织及胃癌原发灶组织中LMXlA基因甲基化状态。结果LMXlA基因启动子区甲基化发生率在胃癌组织及距胃癌灶边缘1、3、5cm组织中分别为46．0％（23／50）、22．O％（11／50）、8．0％（4／50）和4．0％（2／50）,从距癌灶边缘5cm胃组织至胃癌原发灶组织中的表达中随距癌灶边缘距离的减少呈上升趋势,原发灶中甲基化阳性率显著高于距原发灶边缘3cm和5cm组织（x^2=15．42,P〈0．05;x^2=12．63,P〈0．01）。LMXlA基因启动子区甲基化发生率在正常胃组织、癌前病变组织及胃癌原发灶中分别为O％（0／25）、16．0％（4／25）和46．O％（23／50）,三者之间的差异具有统计学意义（×^2=24．85,P〈0．01）。LMXlA基因甲基化发生率在胃癌患者透浆膜组57．6％（19／33）显著高于未透浆膜组14．8％（4／27）（X^2=16．50,P〈0．05）;在转移淋巴结数大于7枚以上组52．9％（9／17）显著高于小于7枚组37．5％（6／16）（X^2=12．74,P〈0．05）。LMXlA基因甲基化在性别、年龄、不同大体类型、生长方式及分化程度上胃癌患者间差异无统计学意义。结论LMXlA基因启动子区异常甲基化可能与胃癌的临床进展有一定的相关性。     

p16、hMLH1基因甲基化与结肠癌的相关性研究

目的检测正常黏膜、结肠腺瘤、结肠癌中p16、hMLH1基因CpG岛甲基化状态,评价其在结肠癌发生中的作用及临床意义。方法收集四川省人民医院2008年10月～12月结肠组织标本60例,其中结肠癌20例、腺瘤20例、正常组织标本20例。采用特异性甲基化PCR（MSP）方法检测p16、hMLH1基因的CpG岛甲基化状态。结果 MSP方法检测发现p16启动子CpG岛甲基化阳性表达率结肠癌组与腺瘤组、正常组比较有显著性差异（P=0.020、0.020）,而腺瘤组与正常组比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。hMLH1启动子CpG岛甲基化阳性表达率结肠癌组与正常组比较有显著性差异（P=0.047）,结肠癌组与腺瘤组、腺瘤组与正常组比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。p16、hMLH1基因CpG岛甲基化与Dukes分期、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、分化程度具有相关性（P〈0.05）,与肿瘤部位、性别无相关性（P〉0.05）。结论 p16、hMLH1启动子区CpG岛甲基化是促进结肠癌发生的重要基因事件,且可能与结肠癌Duke分期相关。     

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。     

胃癌TIMP3基因启动子甲基化及其蛋白表达的研究

目的:探讨组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子-3(tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3,TIMP3)基因启动子甲基化与其蛋白表达的相关性,并分析 TIMP3基因CpG岛异常甲基化与胃腺癌及其临床病理特征的关联性．方法:应用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)技术和免疫组织化学方法分别检测78例患者的胃正常黏膜组织、胃癌组织及转移淋巴结中,TIMP3 基因启动子甲基化和蛋白表达情况．结果:胃正常黏膜组织、早期、进展期胃癌组织和转移淋巴结中TIMP3基因启动子均有甲基化修饰,其阳性率分别为35．9％(28／78); 85．0％(17／20),89．7％(52／58);转移淋巴结 100％(78／78)．胃癌组TIMP3基因启动子甲基化率明显高于胃正常黏膜组(尸<0．05)．胃正常黏膜组织TIMP3蛋白表达全部为阳性(100％), 20例早期胃癌中,6例阳性(30％),58例进展期胃癌中,2例阳性(3．4％),在转移淋巴结中全部不表达(0％)．胃癌70例蛋白表达阴性的标本中,64例TIMP3基因启动子甲基化阳性 (91．4％),TIMP3蛋白表达与启动子甲基化呈明显负相关(P<0．01)．结论:启动子区CpG岛高甲基化是胃癌组织中TIMP3基因表达失活的主要机制,可能成为胃癌分子诊断与病期评估的标志之一．     

Expression of ECRG4, a novel esophageal cancer－related gene,downregulated by CpG island hypermethylation in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To study the mechanisms responsible for inactivation of a novel esophageal cancer related gene 4 (ECRG4) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: A pair of primers was designed to amplify a 220 bp fragment, which contains 16 CpG sites in the core promoter region of the ECRG 4 gene. PCR products of bisulfite-modified CpG islands were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), which were confirmed by DNA sequencing. The methylation status of ECRG 4 promoter in 20 cases of esophageal cancer and the adjacent normal tissues, 5 human tumor cell lines (esophageal cancer cell line-NEC, EC109, EC9706; gastric cancer cell line- GLC; human embryo kidney cell line-Hek293) and 2 normal esophagus tissues were detected. The expression level of the ECRG 4 gene in these samples was examined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression level of ECRG 4 gene was varied. Of 20 esophageal cancer tissues, nine were unexpressed, six were lowly expressed and five were highly expressed compared with the adjacent tissues and the 2 normal esophageal epithelia. In addition, 4 out of the 5 human cell lines were also unexpressed. A high frequency of methylation was revealed in 12 (8 unexpressed and 4 lowly expressed) of the 15 (80 %) downregulated cancer tissues and 3 of the 4 unexpressed cell lines. No methylation peak was observed in the two highly expressed normal esophageal epithelia and the methylation frequency was low (3/20) among the 20 cases in the highly expressed adjacent tissues. The methylation status of the samples was consistent with the result of DNA sequencing. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the inactivation of ECRG 4 gene by hypermethylation is a frequent molecular event in ESCC and may be involved in the carcinogenesis of this 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. 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.     

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.     

CpG dinucleotide methylation of the CYP19 I.3/II promoter modulates cAMP-stimulated aromatase activity

Aromatase expression varies in a tissue-specific manner and among individuals. Aromatase promoter I.3/II, regulated by a cAMP response element (CRE), is normally quiescent in human skin fibroblasts, whereas its hyperactivity may cause local or systemic estrogen excess. We describe the methylation status of 6 CpG dinucleotides within a 571-bp fragment of promoter I.3/II containing a CRE in cAMP-responsive (n=1) or nonresponsive (n=3) primary skin fibroblasts cultured from healthy volunteers. Four out of 6 CpG dinucleotides were unmethylated in cAMP-responsive fibroblasts, whereas all 6 CpG dinucleotides were hypermethylated in cAMP-nonresponsive fibroblasts. Basal and cAMP-stimulated aromatase activity and promoter I.3/II activation were significantly higher in the presence of unmethylated DNA. Furthermore, methylation at the CRE interfered with CREB binding. Thus, methylation of CpG dinucleotides within promoter I.3/II regulates aromatase expression and may be one source of inter-individual variability. Furthermore, abnormal methylation of the aromatase promoter may contribute to aromatase overexpression in breast cancer.     

Demethylation-mediated upregulation of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 correlates with malignant progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundThe expression and methylation status of oncogenes are closely related to the onset and progression of cancer.AimsTo explore the role and methylation status of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods116 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues were obtained. The expression level and methylation status of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 in esophageal cancer cell lines and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues were determined respectively.ResultsSignificant up-regulation of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 was detected in esophageal cancer cell lines and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Up-regulation of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 contributed to proliferation and invasion in cancer cells. Hypomethylation of the CpG site was associated with pathological differentiation, clinical stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients in stage III and IV, with high expression of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 or hypomethylation of the CpG site within the promoter demonstrated poor survival.ConclusionMelanoma-associated antigen-A11 is up-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at least partly by hypomethylation of the CpG site within the promoter and this hypomethylation may affect the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.