title: Frequent epigenetic inactivation of RASSF10 in thyroid cancer.
abstract: The Ras association domain family (RASSF) encodes for distinct tumor suppressors and several members are frequently silenced in human cancer. In our study, we analyzed the role of a novel RASSF member termed RASSF10 in thyroid carcinogenesis. The RASSF10 CpG island promoter was intensively methylated in nine thyroid cancer cell lines and in 66% of primary thyroid carcinomas. RASSF10 methylation was significantly increased in primary thyroid carcinoma compared to normal thyroid and follicular adenoma (0 and 10%, respectively; p < 0.004). Patients with cancerous lymph nodes were significantly hypermethylated for RASSF10 in primary thyroid tumors compared to those with non-affected lymph nodes (79 vs. 36%; p = 0.047). RASSF10 promoter hypermethylation correlated with a reduced expression and treatment with a DNA methylation inhibitor reactivated RASSF10 transcription. In summary, our data show frequent epigenetic inactivation of RASSF10 in thyroid cancer. These results suggest that RASSF10 may encode a novel epigenetically inactivated candidate tumor suppressor gene in thyroid carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Undraga
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schagdarsurengin
authors.forename: Antje M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wöhler
authors.forename: Reinhard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Dammann
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C548440:RASSF10 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins