Lack of prognostic significance of serum DNA methylation of DAPK, MGMT, and GSTPI in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To further improve the screening, diagnosis and therapy of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) additional diagnostic tools are desperately warranted. Aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the DNA methylation of DAPK, MGMT, and GSTPI in serum of patients with NSCLC as a prognostic molecular marker in this disease.


METHODS
Seventy-six patients with NSCLC were included in this study. The analysis of DNA methylation in serum of patients was performed on pre-operative samples. Following DNA isolation and bisulfite-treatment, DNA methylation was analyzed by quantitative-methylation-specific real-time PCR with beta-actin as the internal reference gene.


RESULTS
DNA methylation was detectable with following frequencies: DAPK 68.4%, MGMT 7.9%, GSTPI 0%. There were no associations between DNA methylation status and histology, tumor stage, grading or gender detectable. With a mean follow-up of 19.7 months the median survival was 26.3 months. There were no associations between the status of DNA methylation in patient's serum and prognosis detectable.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of DNA methylation in serum of patients with NSCLC by quantitative-methylation-specific real-time PCR is technically feasible. Although our results suggest quantification of DNA methylation in serum not of prognostic significance in this disease, further studies are warranted to determine the future potential of this molecular approach.
Hoffmann
A C
AC
Department of General-, Visceral- and Tumor Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Kaifi
J T
JT
Vallböhmer
D
D
Yekebas
E
E
Grimminger
P
P
Leers
J M
JM
Izbicki
J R
JR
Hölscher
A H
AH
Schneider
P M
PM
Metzger
R
R
Brabender
J
J
D000368:Aged; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D064550:Death-Associated Protein Kinases; D005260:Female; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D064550:Death-Associated Protein Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes