Discovery of novel hypermethylated genes in prostate cancer using genomic CpG island microarrays.
BACKGROUND
Promoter and 5' end methylation regulation of tumour suppressor genes is a common feature of many cancers. Such occurrences often lead to the silencing of these key genes and thus they may contribute to the development of cancer, including prostate cancer.


RESULTS
In order to identify methylation changes in prostate cancer, we performed a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation using Agilent human CpG island arrays. Using computational and gene-specific validation approaches we have identified a large number of potential epigenetic biomarkers of prostate cancer. Further validation of candidate genes on a separate cohort of low and high grade prostate cancers by quantitative MethyLight analysis has allowed us to confirm DNA hypermethylation of HOXD3 and BMP7, two genes that may play a role in the development of high grade tumours. We also show that promoter hypermethylation is responsible for downregulated expression of these genes in the DU-145 PCa cell line.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies novel epigenetic biomarkers of prostate cancer and prostate cancer progression, and provides a global assessment of DNA methylation in prostate cancer.
Kron
Ken
K
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Pethe
Vaijayanti
V
Briollais
Laurent
L
Sadikovic
Bekim
B
Ozcelik
Hilmi
H
Sunderji
Alia
A
Venkateswaran
Vasundara
V
Pinthus
Jehonathan
J
Fleshner
Neil
N
van der Kwast
Theodorus
T
Bapat
Bharati
B
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000077209:Decitabine; D015536:Down-Regulation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C073547:HOXA4 protein, human; D000077209:Decitabine; D001374:Azacitidine