胃癌DAPK基因甲基化的初步研究

目的：探讨死亡相关蛋白激酶（death-associated protein kinase，DAPK）基因甲基化与胃癌的关系。方法：采用甲基化特异性PCR（methylation specific PCR，MSP）检测38例配对胃癌组织、癌旁正常组织和转移淋巴结中DAPK基因甲基化的情况。结果：81．6％（31／38）的胃癌组织中存在异常甲基化，而相应的癌旁正常组织和转移淋巴结中该基因的甲基化率分别为42．1％（16／38）和70．2％（27／38）。癌组织和转移淋巴结中DAPK基因甲基化的发生率显著高于癌旁正常组织。癌旁正常组织中，该基因甲基化与年龄相关，P=0．020。但与肿瘤大体类型、分化程度及浸润深度等临床病理特征无关。结论：DAPK基因异常甲基化是胃发生发展过程中的频发事件，通过检测胃黏膜组织及转移淋巴结中该基因的甲基化情况，可能会对胃癌的诊断及判断淋巴结的微转移提供一定的参考价值，并有望成为胃癌新的基因治疗靶点。

Studies on methylation of DAPK gene in primary gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE:To study the methylation status of DAPK gene in human gastric cancer. METHODS: Methylation status of DAPK gene in 38 gastric carcinoma specimens, corresponding non-neoplastic gastric mucosae and lymphonode was detected by methylation-specific PCR. RESULTS: Aberrant methylation was detected in 42.1%(16/38) of non-neoplastic gastric mucosae, 81.6%(31/38) of gastric carcinoma and 70.2%(27/38) of lymphonode. Methylation in the former was significantly less frequent than that in the others. Presence of DAPK methylation in non-neoplastic gastric mucosae was significantly correlated with old age. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant methylation of DAPK gene is a common event in the development and progress of gastric cancer,it may provide useful information for the dignos is and assess ment of occult metastasis in lymphonode.