[Hypermethylation of Ras association domain family protein 1A, hypermethylated in cancer 1 and p73 genes in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the status of promoter hypermethylation of Ras association domain family protein 1A (RASSF1A), hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1) and p73 genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explore the correlation with clinicopathological features.


METHODS
Forty cases of HCC and their corresponding non-tumor liver tissues, other 2 cases of healthy donor livers were detected using methylation specific polymorphism chain reaction (MSP) method.


RESULTS
The frequency of promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A showed 90.0% and 72.5% in tumor and corresponding non-tumor tissues respectively, and there was significant difference between them (P < 0.05). The frequency of promoter hypermethylation of HIC1 showed 77.5% and 70.0% in tumor and corresponding non-tumor tissues respectively. The frequency of hypermethylation of HIC1 in non-tumor liver tissues showed significant correlation between younger and older patients. The frequency of promoter hypermethylation of p73 showed 5.0% in tumor tissues. However, none of hypermethylation of the gene was detected in corresponding non-tumor liver tissues. There was none of hypermethylation of the three genes showed in two cases of healthy donor livers.


CONCLUSIONS
Promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A and HIC1 genes are common event in HCC and play an important role in the pathogenesis and may be used to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for HCC in the future.
Zhao
Zhong-hai
ZH
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
Geng
Xiao-ping
XP
Zhu
Li-xin
LX
Li
Hiu-ming
HM
Liew
Choong-tsek
CT
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C499808:HIC1 protein, human; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins