Hypermethylation of the COX-2 gene is a potential prognostic marker for cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the DNA hypermethylation profiles of 14 genes known to be associated with tumor behavior and their clinical significance in cervical cancer.


METHODS
The clinical features of 82 patients with stage IB cervical cancer were analyzed in terms of DNA hypermethylation of 14 genes (hMLH1, p16, COX-2, CDH1, APC, DAPK, MGMT, p14, RASSF1A, RUNX3, TIMP3, FHIT, THBS1, and HLTF).


RESULTS
Of 14 genes investigated, only hypermethylation of COX-2 showed significant association with poor disease-free survival (P = 0.001). To further investigate an alteration in COX-2 expression by DNA hypermethylation, immunohistochemistry for COX-2 protein was performed in the cervical cancer tissues. We found no significant association between hypermethylation and expression patterns of the COX-2 gene.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that DNA hypermethylation of the COX-2 gene may be a potential prognostic marker in early stage cervical cancer, the underlying mechanism of which is independent of gene silencing.
Jo
Hoenil
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Sokbom
S
Kim
Jae W
JW
Kang
Gyeong H
GH
Park
Noh H
NH
Song
Yong S
YS
Park
Sang Y
SY
Kang
Soon B
SB
Lee
Hyo P
HP
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007723:Korea; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2