The presence of methylation of the p16INK4A gene and human papillomavirus in high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions.
Methylation is a chemical modification in which a methyl group (CH3) is added to the cytosine in the promoter region of the gene. It involves a very frequent epigenetic event that is found in many human cancers. Currently, there is no consensus on whether methylation of the p16 gene could be used as a biomarker in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The authors studied the presence of methylation of the p16 gene and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, and a possible relationship between them in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. This case-control study analyzed 27 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion samples and 20 normal cytology samples. To detect p16 methylation, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used, and for HPV DNA detection the polymerase chain reaction was performed by using MY09/MY11 and GP5+/GP6+ consensus primers. The presence of methylation of the promoter region of the p16INK4a gene was detected in 55.6% of the samples from the case group, whereas it was detected only in 20% of the samples from the control group (P=0.005). HPV DNA was found in 66.7% of the samples from the case group, whereas only 15% from the control group (P=0.0001). The relationship between the presence of methylation of the p16 gene and HPV DNA did not prove statistically significant in the case group (P=0.67) or the control group (P=0.51). In conclusion, the presence of methylation of the p16 gene constituted an occurrence that was early but independent of the presence of HPV DNA.
Furtado
Yara L
YL
Institute of Gynecology, Gynecology Institute, Surgery Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Moncorvo Filho No. 90, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. yarafurtadorj@terra.com.br
Almeida
Gutemberg
G
Lattario
Fernanda
F
Silva
Katia S
KS
Maldonado
Paula
P
Silveira
Filomena A
FA
do Val
Isabel C
IC
Fonseca
Renata
R
Carvalho
Maria da Gloria
Mda G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004247:DNA