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Hypermethylation-modulated Downregulation of RASSF1A Expression Is Associated with the Progression of Esophageal Cancer
- Source :
-
Archives of Medical Research . Apr2011, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p182-188. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background and Aims: Chromosome 3p21 is an important locus harboring critical tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple tumors including esophageal carcinoma (EC). Aberrant promoter methylation is a fundamental mechanism of inactivation of TSGs in cancer. RASSF1A, a candidate tumor suppressor gene, recently cloned from the lung tumor locus at 3p21.3, is frequently inactivated by hypermethylation of its promoter region in a number of malignancies. We undertook this study to investigate the methylation status of RASSF1A and its significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Real-time RT-PCR and real-time methylation-specific PCR (real-time MSP) were used to detect RASSF1A expression and the methylation status of the RASSF1A promoter, respectively, in 124 primary ESCC tissues. Results: Hypermethylation, partial methylation and unmethylation of the promoter region of RASSF1A were detected in 56 (45.2%), 23 (18.6%) and 45 (36.2%) of 124 ESCC samples, respectively. Unmethylation of the promoter region of RASSF1A was detected in 119 (96%) of the 124 corresponding noncancerous tissues. Five (4.0%) of 124 noncancerous tissues showed partial methylation. The presence of hypermethylation was statistically associated with loss of RASSF1A mRNA expression in primary ESCC (p <0.05). There were statistically significant correlations between the presence of hypermethylation and regional lymph node involvement (p = 0.000), histological differentiation (p = 0.009) and tumor stage (p = 0.000). Conclusions: Our results suggest that RASSF1A may be one of the ESCC-related TSGs located at 3p21, and hypermethylation of the CpG island promoter of the RASSF1A is associated with the progression of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01884409
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Archives of Medical Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 62267650
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2011.04.002