title: A simple epigenetic method for the diagnosis and classification of brain tumors.
abstract: The new, simple, and reliable method for the diagnosis of brain tumors is described. It is based on a TLC quantitative determination of 5-methylcytosine (m(5)C) in relation to its damage products of DNA from tumor tissue. Currently, there is evidence that oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the etiology and progression of several human diseases. Oxidative damage of DNA, lipids, and proteins is deleterious for the cell. m(5)C, along with other basic components of DNA, is the target for ROS, which results in the appearance of new modified nucleic acid bases. If so, m(5)C residue constitutes a mutational hotspot position, whether it occurs within a nucleotide sequence of a structural gene or a regulatory region. Here, we show the results of the analysis of 82 DNA samples taken from brain tumor tissues. DNA was isolated and hydrolyzed into nucleotides, which, after labeling with [gamma-(32)P]ATP, were separated on TLC. Chromatograms were evaluated using PhosphorImager and the amounts of 5-methyldeoxycytosine (m(5)dC) were calculated as a ratio (R) of m(5)dC to m(5)dC + deoxycytosine + deoxythymidine spot intensities. The R value could not only be a good diagnostic marker for brain tumors but also a factor differentiating low-grade and high-grade gliomas. Therefore, DNA methylation pattern might be a useful tool to give a primary diagnosis of a brain tumor or as a marker for the early detection of the relapse of the disease. This method has several advantages over those existing nowadays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology, Karol Marcinkowski University School of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zukiel
authors.forename: Stanislaw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barciszewska
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gawronska
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Miroslawa Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Barciszewska
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D044503:5-Methylcytosine