Methylated DNA collected by tampons--a new tool to detect endometrial cancer. |
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| Authors: | Heidi Fiegl Conny Gattringer Andreas Widschwendter Alois Schneitter Angela Ramoni Daniela Sarlay Inge Gaugg Georg Goebel Hannes M Müller Elisabeth Mueller-Holzner Christian Marth Martin Widschwendter |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innsbruck University Hospital, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. |
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| Abstract: | This proof of principle study aimed to define a new and simple strategy for detection of endometrial cancer using epigenetic markers. We investigated DNA isolated from vaginal secretion collected from tampon for aberrant methylation of five genes (CDH13, HSPA2, MLH1, RASSF1A, and SOCS2) using MethyLight in 15 patients with endometrial cancer and 109 patients without endometrial cancer. All endometrial cancer patients revealed three or more methylated genes, whereas 91% (99 of 109) of the patients without endometrial cancer had no or fewer than three genes methylated in their vaginal secretion. The methods developed in this study provide the basis for a prospective clinical trial to screen asymptomatic women who are at high risk for endometrial cancer. |
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