Global and regional CpG methylation in pheochromocytomas and abdominal paragangliomas: association to malignant behavior.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to quantitatively assess promoter and global methylation changes in pheochromocytomas and abdominal paragangliomas and its relation to tumor phenotypes.


METHODS
A panel of 53 primary tumors (42 benign, 11 malignant) was analyzed by quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing. Based on methylation levels in the tumor suppressor genes, p16(INK4A), CDH1, DCR2, RARB, RASSF1A, NORE1A, TP73, APC, DAPK1, p14(ARF), and PTEN, a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was defined as concerted hypermethylation in three or more genes. Mean Z scores for the hypermethylated promoters were calculated to characterize overall promoter methylation. Global DNA methylation was quantified for LINE-1 promoter sequences and by using luminescent methylation analysis.


RESULTS
Five primary tumors (9.4%) exhibited a CIMP phenotype, four of which were malignant paragangliomas. CIMP was significantly associated with malignant behavior (P = 0.005) and younger age at presentation (P < 0.007) but did not result from BRAF V600E mutation. Global hypomethylation of LINE-1 elements was observed in tumors compared with normal adrenal samples (P < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
We here describe the identification of CIMP in abdominal paragangliomas and a strong association of this phenotype with malignant behavior, as well as young age at presentation. The findings raise a prospective for potential benefits of epigenetically acting drugs for a subgroup of young abdominal paraganglioma patients with adverse prognosis.
Geli
Janos
J
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. Janos.Geli@ki.se
Kiss
Nimrod
N
Karimi
Mohsen
M
Lee
Jia-Jing
JJ
Bäckdahl
Martin
M
Ekström
Tomas J
TJ
Larsson
Catharina
C
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D020084:Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic