Diagnostic and prognostic information in prostate cancer with the help of a small set of hypermethylated gene loci.
OBJECTIVE
Our study was designed to evaluate promoter CpG island hypermethylation in the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.


METHODS
Primary prostate cancers from 53 patients, pelvic lymph nodes, noncancerous prostate tissues, and prostate cell lines were analyzed. Real-time methylation-specific PCR was used to identify CpG island hypermethylation at five promising gene loci (i.e., GSTP1, APC, PTGS2, MDR1, and RASSF1a).


RESULTS
At three gene loci (GSTP1, APC, and PTGS1) and CpG island, hypermethylation was highly prevalent in prostate cancers (71-91%), and analysis of receiver operator curves showed that hypermethylation at these three gene loci can distinguish between prostate cancer and noncancerous prostatic tissue (i.e., benign hyperplasia) with a sensitivity of 71.1% to 96.2% and a specificity of 92.9% to 100%. Using sensitive SYBR green methylation-specific PCR technology, we observed a respective 28% and 71% hypermethylation rate at the RASSF1a and MDR1 loci in benign prostate hyperplasia, which may represent early nonaggressive carcinogenesis. Methylation characteristics in prostate cancer metastases (i.e., pelvic lymph nodes) were comparable to the respective primary cancer. Statistical analysis showed no correlation between the methylation status of a single gene locus and clinicopathologic variables (e.g., preoperative prostate specific antigen levels, Gleason score, capsular penetration, involvement of seminal vesicle, and age). In contrast, the methylation of two (GSTP1/APC; GSTP1/PTGS2) or three (GSTP1/APC/PTGS2) gene loci correlated with prognostic indicators (i.e., pathologic stage, extraprostatic extension, and Gleason score, but not with prostate specific antigen levels).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the evaluation of DNA hypermethylation at three gene loci (i.e., GSTP1, APC, and PTGS2) is of diagnostic and prognostic value in prostate cancer.
Bastian
Patrick J
PJ
Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie and Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany. patrick.bastian@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Ellinger
Jörg
J
Wellmann
Axel
A
Wernert
Nicolas
N
Heukamp
Lukas C
LC
Müller
Stefan C
SC
von Ruecker
Alexander
A
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019175:DNA Methylation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase