贲门腺癌中RASSF1A基因的甲基化状态及表达

 目的 研究贲门腺癌（gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma,GCA）中RASSF1A基因的甲基化状态及其蛋白表达情况。 方法 分别应用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）、RT-PCR及免疫组织化学SP法检测贲门癌组织及相应癌旁组织的RASSF1A甲基化情况和mRNA水平及蛋白表达情况。 结果 92例贲门癌组织中有54例发生了甲基化,甲基化率为58.7%,显著高于癌旁正常组织（P<0.01）。Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期贲门癌患者中RASSF1A基因发生甲基化的比率显著高于Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期患者（P<0.05）。92例贲门癌组织中有43例RASSF1A基因蛋白表达阴性,与相应癌旁正常组织相比有显著性差异（P<0.01）。Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期贲门癌RASSF1A基因蛋白表达显著低于Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期患者（P<0.05）。发生甲基化的贲门癌组织中RASSF1A的mRNA水平的表达显著低于未发生甲基化的贲门癌组织（P<0.01）。 结论 RASSF1A基因启动子区发生甲基化导致的基因沉默可能是贲门腺癌发生的机制之一。     

RAS相关家族1A基因在胃癌中的表达和启动子甲基化

目的分析散发性胃癌中RAS相关家族1A基因(RASSF1A基因)的表达、突变和启动子甲基化状况,探讨RASSF1A基因在胃癌发生、发展中的意义.方法采用定量PCR、RT-PCR和SSCP的检测90例胃癌组织和30例相应癌旁正常组织中RASSF1A基因表达水平以及基因突变的情况;采用甲基化特异性PCR (MSP)方法检测RASSF1A基因启动子甲基化情况.结果 90例胃癌中有52例(57.8%)RASSF1A无表达或表达低下.RASSF1A无表达或表达低下和肿瘤细胞的分化(P<0.05)以及分期(P<0.001)相关,但是和肿瘤的浸润深度以及淋巴结转移不相关(P>0.05).90例胃癌中52例启动子发生甲基化(57.8%),其中90.3%(47/52)的RASSF1A无表达或表达低下组织中检测到RASSF1A基因启动子的甲基化,然而癌旁正常组织未发现有RASSF1A基因启动子的甲基化,SSCP没有发现任何突变.结论胃癌中存在较多的启动子异常甲基化造成RASSF1A基因失活,这可能是胃癌发生发展的因素之一.     

Epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A candidate tumor suppressor gene at 3p21.3 in brain tumors

The human Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) gene, recently isolated from the lung and breast tumor suppressor locus 3p21.3, is highly methylated in primary lung, breast, nasopharyngeal and other tumors, and re-expression of RASSF1A suppresses the growth of several types of cancer cells. Epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A by promoter hypermethylation is also important in the development of several human cancers. The methylation status of the promoter region of RASSF1A was analysed in primary brain tumors and glioma cell lines by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. In primary brain tumors, 25 of 46 (54.3%) gliomas and five of five (100%) medulloblastomas showed RASSF1A methylation. In benign tumors, only one of 10 (10%) schwannomas and two of 12 (16.7%) meningiomas showed RASSF1A methylation. The RASSF1A promoter region was methylated in all four glioma cell lines. RASSF1A was re-expressed in all methylated cell lines after treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Methylation of the promoter CpG islands of the RASSF1A may play an important role in the pathogenesis of glioma and medulloblastoma.     

The RASSF gene family members RASSF5, RASSF6 and RASSF7 show frequent DNA methylation in neuroblastoma

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hypermethylation of promotor CpG islands is a common mechanism that inactivates tumor suppressor genes in cancer. Genes belonging to the RASSF gene family have frequently been reported as epigenetically silenced by promotor methylation in human cancers. Two members of this gene family, RASSF1A and RASSF5A have been reported as methylated in neuroblastoma. Data from our previously performed genome-wide DNA methylation array analysis indicated that other members of the RASSF gene family are targeted by DNA methylation in neuroblastoma. RESULTS: In the current study, we found that several of the RASSF family genes (RASSF2, RASSF4, RASSF5, RASSF6, RASSF7, and RASSF10) to various degrees were methylated in neuroblastoma cell lines and primary tumors. In addition, several of the RASSF family genes showed low or absent mRNA expression in neuroblastoma cell lines. RASSF5 and RASSF6 were to various degrees methylated in a large portion of neuroblastoma tumors and RASSF7 was heavily methylated in most tumors. Further, CpG methylation sites in the CpG islands of some RASSF family members could be used to significantly discriminate between biological subgroups of neuroblastoma tumors. For example, RASSF5 methylation highly correlated to MYCN amplification and INRG stage M. Furthermore, high methylation of RASSF6 was correlated to unfavorable outcome, 1p deletion and MYCN amplification in our tumor material. In conclusion This study shows that several genes belonging to the RASSF gene family are methylated in neuroblastoma. The genes RASSF5, RASSF6 and RASSF7 stand out as the most promising candidate genes for further investigations in neuroblastoma.     

Screening for genomic fragments that are methylated specifically in colorectal carcinoma with a methylated MLH1 promoter

A subset of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) is associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) of the genome. Although extensive methylation of CpG islands within the promoter regions of DNA mismatch repair genes such as MLH1 is thought to play a central role in tumorigenesis for MSI-positive sporadic CRCs, it has been obscure whether such aberrant epigenetic regulation occurs more widely and affects other cancer-related genes in vivo. Here, by using methylated CpG island amplification coupled with representational difference analysis (MCA-RDA), we screened genomic fragments that are selectively methylated in CRCs positive for MLH1 methylation, resulting in the identification of hundreds of CpG islands containing genomic fragments. Methylation status of such CpG islands was verified for 28 genomic clones in 8 CRC specimens positive for MLH1 methylation and the corresponding paired normal colon tissue as well as in 8 CRC specimens negative for methylation. Many of the CpG islands were preferentially methylated in the MLH1 methylation-positive CRC specimens, although methylation of some of them was more widespread. These data provide insights into the complex regulation of the methylation status of CpG islands in CRCs positive for MSI and MLH1 methylation.     

Predicting hepatocellular carcinoma by detection of aberrant promoter methylation in serum DNA.

PURPOSE: Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions is now recognized as an important early event in carcinogenesis and detection of methylated DNA has been suggested as a potential biomarker for early detection of cancer. There are no studies on epigenetic changes in samples from HCC patients before diagnosis. We explored the possible diagnostic value of aberrant promoter hypermethylation of three tumor suppressor genes in serum DNA for early detection of HCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Aberrant promoter hypermethylation was investigated in DNA isolated from the serum of 50 HCC patients who provided repeated blood samples before diagnosis and 50 controls enrolled in a cancer screen program in Taiwan. Methylation-specific PCR was used to determine the methylation status of p16, p15, and ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A). RESULTS: Among cases, aberrant methylation was found in serum DNA 1 to 9 years before clinical HCC diagnosis. RASSF1A had the highest frequency of hypermethylation with 35 (70%) cases having at least one positive sample compared with 22 (44%) for p16 and 12 (22%) for p15. Six subjects were hypermethylation negative for all three genes. For the 50 controls, promoter hypermethylation was found in three and two subjects for RASSF1A and p16, respectively; none had methylation of p15. A receiver operating characteristic curve that included clinical risk factors (age, HBsAg status, anti-hepatitis C virus status, smoking, and alcohol status) and hypermethylation biomarkers gave an overall predictive accuracy of 89% with sensitivity and specificity 84% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of epigenetic changes on RASSF1A, p16, and p15 tumor suppressor genes in serum DNA may be a valuable biomarkers for early detection in populations at high risk of HCC.     

Promoter methylation of MGMT, MLH1 and RASSF1A tumor suppressor genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: pharmacological genome demethylation reduces proliferation of head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

Promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is a common feature of primary cancer cells. However, to date the somatic epigenetic events that occur in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumorigenesis have not been well-defined. In the present study, we analyzed the promoter methylation status of the genes mutL homolog 1 (MLH1), Ras-association domain family member 1 (RASSF1A) and O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in 23 HNSCC samples, three control tissues and one HNSCC cell line (UM-SCC 33) using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The expression of the three proteins was quantified by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis. The cell line was treated with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5-Aza) and the methylation status after 5-Aza treatment was analyzed by MSP and DNA sequencing. Proliferation was determined by Alamar blue staining. We found that the MGMT promoter in 57% of the analyzed primary tumor samples and in the cell line was hypermethylated. The MLH promoter was found to be methylated in one out of 23 (4%) tumor samples while in the examined cell line the MLH promoter was unmethylated. The RASSF1A promoter showed methylation in 13% of the tumor samples and in the cell line. MGMT expression in the group of tumor samples with a hypermethylated promoter was statistically significantly lower compared to the group of tumors with no measured hypermethylation of the MGMT promoter. After treatment of the cell line with the demethylating agent 5-Aza no demethylation of the methylated MGMT and RASSF1A genes were determined by MSP. DNA sequencing verified the MSP results, however, increased numbers of unmethylated CpG islands in the promoter region of MGMT and RASSF1A were observed. Proliferation was significantly (p<0.05) reduced after treatment with 5-Aza. In summary, we have shown promoter hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor genes MGMT and RASSF1A in HNSCC, suggesting that this epigenetic inactivation of TSGs may play a role in the development of HNSCC. 5-Aza application resulted in partial demethylation of the MGMT and RASSF1A TSGs and reduced proliferation of the tumor cells suggesting further evaluation of 5-Aza for HNSCC treatment.     

Methylation of multiple genes as molecular markers for diagnosis of a small,well‐differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma

The current study was conducted to identify robust methylation markers and their combinations that may prove useful for the diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To achieve this, we performed in silico CpG mapping, direct sequencing and pyrosequencing after bisulfite treatment, and quantitative methylation‐specific PCR (MSP) in HCC and non‐HCC liver tissues. In the filtering group (25 HCCs), our direct sequencing analysis showed that, among the 12 methylation genes listed by in silico CpG mapping, 7 genes (RASSF1A, CCND2, SPINT2, RUNX3, GSTP1, APC and CFTR) were aberrantly methylated in stages I and II HCCs. In the validation group (20 pairs of HCCs and the corresponding non‐tumor liver tissues), pyrosequencing analysis confirmed that the 7 genes were aberrantly and strongly methylated in early HCCs, but not in any of the corresponding non‐ tumor liver tissues (p < 0.00001). The results obtained using our novel quantitative MSP assay correlated well with those observed using the pyrosequencing analysis. Notably, in MSP assay, RASSF1A showed the most robust performance for the discrimination of HCC and non‐HCC liver tissues. Furthermore, a combination of RASSF1A, CCND2 and SPINT2 showed 89–95% sensitivity, 91–100% specificity and 89–97% accuracy in discriminating between HCC and non‐HCC tissues, and correctly diagnosed all early HCCs. These results indicate that the combination of these 3 genes may aid in the accurate diagnosis of early HCC. © 2009 UICC     

Inactivation of RASSF2A by promoter methylation correlates with lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

RASSF2 can bind directly to K-Ras and function as a negative effector of Ras protein. RASSF2A is the only isoform of RASSF2 that contains CpG islands in its promoter and it has been reported to be inactivated by its promoter methylation in several human cancers. In the present study, we investigated the correlation of RASSF2A expression with its promoter methylation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Expression of RASSF2A was down-regulated in 80% (4/5) of NPC cell lines. Decreased RASSF2A expression was also observed in NPC primary tumors compared with normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. Promoter methylation of RASSF2A could be detected in all the RASSF2A-silenced cell lines (4/5) of the NPC cell lines and 50.9% (27/53) of primary tumors, but not in any of the normal epithelia. RASSF2A-methylated cases showed a significantly lower level of RASSF2A expression than unmethylated cases. Loss of RASSF2A expression can be greatly restored by the methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-dC in NPC cell lines. In addition, patients with methylated RASSF2A presented a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). Ectopic expression of RASSF2A in RASSF2A-silenced and -methylated NPC cell line CNE2 shows that RASSF2A could inhibit cell cycle progression, colony formation and cell migration, which provided further evidence that RASSF2A is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. In conclusion, RASSF2A, a candidate tumor suppressor gene (TSG), is frequently inactivated by its promoter methylation and this aberrant methylation correlates with lymph node metastasis in NPC.     

Promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes in non-small cell lung cancers

Aberrant methylation of promoter CpG islands is known to be a major inactivation mechanism of tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes. To determine the clinicopathological significance of gene promoter methylation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we examined the promoter methylation status of the APC, DAP-kinase, E-cadherin, GSTP1, hMLH1, p16, RASSF1A and RUNX3 genes in 75 NSCLCs and corresponding non-neoplastic lung tissues by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The frequencies of methylation in NSCLCs and corresponding non-neoplastic lung tissues were: 37% (28 of 75) and 48% (36 of 75) for APC , 28% (21 of 75) and 13% (10 of 75) for DAP-kinase , 29% (22 of 75) and 15% (11 of 75) for E-cadherin , 1% (1 of 75) and 0% (0 of 75) for GSTP1 , 7% (5 of 75) and 0% (0 of 75) for hMLH1 , 31% (23 of 75) and 0% (0 of 75) for p16 , 43% (32 of 75) and 4% (3 of 75) for RASSF1A , and 20% (15 of 75) and 3% (2 of 75) for RUNX3 , respectively. Methylation of p16 was more frequent in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas ( P <0.05), and was associated with tobacco smoking ( P <0.05). On the contrary, methylation of APC and RUNX3 was more frequent in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas ( P <0.05). Thus, a different set of genes is thought to undergo promoter methylation, which leads to the development of different histologies. In addition, methylation of p16, RASSF1A and RUNX3 was mostly cancer-specific ( P <0.05), and may be utilized as a molecular diagnostic marker of NSCLCs.