title: Aberrant DNA methylation of P16, MGMT, and hMLH1 genes in combination with MTHFR C677T genetic polymorphism in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: To explore the role of aberrant hypermethylation of cancer-related genes, such as P16, MGMT, and hMLH1, in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) as well as its relation to dietary folate intake and MTHFR C677T polymorphism, we conducted a molecular epidemiologic study in China. One hundred and twenty-five histologically confirmed ESCC patients having undergone surgery in the Yangzhong People's Hospital between January 2005 and March 2006 were recruited. The aberrant CpG island hypermethylation of P16, MGMT, and hMLH1 genes could be found in cancer tissues with frequency of about 88.0%, 27.2%, and 3.2%, respectively, and in remote normal-appearing esophageal tissues with frequency of about 36.8%, 11.2%, and 0.0%, respectively. No hypermethylation was found in the normal esophageal tissues from healthy controls. Compared with those patients without lymph node metastasis, MGMT gene showed a higher proportion of hypermethylation in cancer tissues, whereas P16 gene showed a higher proportion of hypermethylation in remote normal-appearing esophageal tissues in patients with lymph node metastasis. A significant association was found between MTHFR C677T genetic polymorphism and CpG island methylation status of MGMT gene. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals carrying CT or TT genotype have higher frequency of hypermethylation in MGMT gene in cancer tissues, with odds ratio of 3.34 (95% confidence interval, 1.07-10.39) and 3.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.13-12.94), respectively. This study indicated that the aberrant CpG island hypermethylation of cancer-related genes was associated with ESCC and might be a promising biomarker in diagnosis and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: JianMing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Annie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sasco
authors.forename: ChaoWei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: HengChuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: GuoPing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: ZhaoLai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: QingWu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics*; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes