title: Inactivation of hMLH1 and hMSH2 by promoter methylation in primary non-small cell lung tumors and matched sputum samples.
abstract: We performed a genetic and epigenetic study of the hMLH1 and hMSH2 mismatch repair genes in resected primary tumors from 77 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The molecular alterations examined included the loss of mRNA and protein expression as well as promoter methylation, and the allelic imbalance of the chromosomal regions that harbor the genes. We found that 78% and 26% of patients showed at least one type of molecular alteration within the hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes, respectively. Promoter methylation of the hMLH1 gene was present in 55.8% of tumors, and was significantly associated with the reduction in mRNA and protein expression (P = 0.001). A 72% concordance of aberrant methylation in sputum samples with matched resected tumors was found. In addition, a 93% consistency between the promoter methylation and the mRNA expression of the hMSH2 gene was found in 14 female NSCLC patients. However, no correlation was found between the expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins and the allelic imbalance of five microsatellite markers closely linked to the genes. Our results suggest that hMLH1 is the major altered mismatch repair gene involved in NSCLC tumorigenesis, and that promoter methylation is the predominant mechanism in hMLH1 and hMSH2 deregulation. In addition, promoter methylation of the hMLH1 gene may be identified in sputum samples to serve as a potential diagnostic marker of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. t43017@cc.ntnu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Yi-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yung-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ruo-Chia
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Ruo-Kai
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jer-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jung-Ta
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuen-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Chih-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000077209:Decitabine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077209:Decitabine; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D001374:Azacitidine