SPMSP: a solid-phase PCR with colorimetric read-out for quantitative methylation analysis.
BACKGROUND
As DNA methylation has been determined as an important diagnostic biomarker in cancer management, methods for the detection of quantitative DNA methylation which are high-throughput and low-cost are needed.


METHODS
In this work, we introduce the solid-phase methylation-specific PCR (SPMSP) as a method for quantitative methylation analysis. SPMSP combines methylation-specific DNA amplification on a solid phase with subsequent colorimetric detection in an ELISA-based format.


RESULTS
In contrast to existing methods for quantitative methylation analysis, SPMSP can be carried out with standard laboratory equipment, i.e. a thermocycler and an ELISA reader. With this method, DNA methylation in the promoter of the APC tumour suppressor gene was quantified in a set of colorectal carcinoma samples.


CONCLUSIONS
As SPMSP can be modified to the analysis of other promoter sequences and is also adaptable to a high-throughput system, SPMSP offers a platform for methylation profiling with widespread applications in cancer research and management.
Sievers
Sonja
S
CMax Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany. sonja.sievers@mpi-dortmund.mpg.de
Fritzsch
Carla
C
Kuhnen
Cornelius
C
Müller
Oliver
O