title: [Detection of methylation of hMSH2 gene promoter region of esophageal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect methylation in promoter region of hMSH2 gene in esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of cancer and normal tissues freshly removed from 32 cases of esophageal cancer patients without previous radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other treatment were preserved at -80 degrees C within 30 min. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect methylation of mismatch repair gene (MMR) hMSH2 in promoter region in esophageal cancer and normal esophageal tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of methylation of hMSH2 gene in promoter region of cancer and normal esophageal tissues were 32.4% (11/32) and 0/30 (0%), respectively, and significant difference was found between the two groups (P < 0.01). The frequency of methylation in elder patients (> or = 70 years old) was significantly higher than that in younger patients (< 70 years old) (P < 0.05). Methylation was less frequently found in grade I-II (18.2%) than in grade III-IV (70.0%) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methylation of hMSH2 gene in promoter region is related to patients' age and histopathological grade of the esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Henan Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Gong-yuan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun-xiao
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qiu-liang
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Qin-xian
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein