[Detection of methylation status of p16 tumor suppressor gene in soft tissue leiomyosarcoma].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the methylation status of p16 tumor suppressor gene in human soft tissue leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and its relationship with p16 protein expression.


METHODS
Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) assay was used to analyze the methylation status of 5' CpG island promoter/exon I region of p16 tumor suppressor gene in 38 LMS, 10 leiomyomas and 5 normal smooth muscle tissues. p16 expression in these tissues were examined by immunohistochemical assay.


RESULTS
Hypermethylation of p16 was observed in 23.7% (9/38) of cases, of which 7 with negative pl6 staining and 2 with faint positive staining. In the cases without protein expression, hypermethylation rate of p16 was 50% (7/14).


CONCLUSIONS
Epigenetic change due to 5' CpG methylation is the main cause of inactivation of p16 (INK4) gene which may be involved in tumor pathogenesis.
Xu
J
J
Department of Pathology, First University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yang
G
G
Bu
H
H
Guo
L
L
Zhang
S
S
Liu
J
J
D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm