title: Correlation between hypermethylation of the RASSF2A promoter and K-ras/BRAF mutations in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancers.
abstract: Recently, RASSF2A was identified as a potential tumor suppressor epigenetically inactivated in human cancers. Here, we evaluated the methylation status of RASSF2A in colorectal cancer (CRC) and analyzed its correlation with K-ras/BRAF mutations, microsatellite instability status and other clinicopathological features. Using methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite sequencing, we analyzed the methylation status in primary CRC, adenomas and corresponding normal tissues and then compared it with the presence of K-ras and BRAF mutations. We also examined the expression and methylation status of RASSF2A in CRC cell lines. We found that aberrant methylation of RASSF2A promoter regions is associated with gene silencing in CRC cell lines. In primary CRC, the frequency of RASSF2A methylation was 72.6%, and it was found in 16 of 16 (100%) adenomas. In addition, there was a positive correlation between K-ras/BRAF mutations and RASSF2A methylation in primary CRC. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between K-ras/BRAF mutations and RASSF2A methylation was also observed in microsatellite-stable (p = 0.033) and distal CRC (p = 0.025). These results show that RASSF2A methylation is a frequent event in colorectal tumorigenesis and positively correlates with K-ras/BRAF mutation in microsatellite-stable or distal CRC.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Cancer Research Institute and Cancer Research Center, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hio Chung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Il-Jin
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jae-Gahb
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; C425300:RASSF2 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf