title: RASSF1A gene promoter methylation in esophageal cancer specimens.
abstract: SUMMARY. RASSF1A is frequently inactivated by promoter methylation in human cancers. To understand the involvement of the RASSF1A gene in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), we investigated the methylation of the RASSF1A gene in primary ESCC to define the frequency of this epigenetic aberration and its clinicopathological significance. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to detect RASSF1A gene methylation in DNA from 55 cases of ESCC. Methylation of the RASSF1A gene was found in 13 of 55 (24%) cases of primary ESCC. No association was found between the promoter methylation of the RASSF1A gene in primary ESCC and age, gender, localization, invasion depth, or tumor stage. Association was found with tumor differentiation. There was no correlation with its prognosis. In conclusion, it was suggested that an inactivation of the RASSF1A gene due to promoter methylation was associated with de-differentiation of the tumor in ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School, Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins