title: The role of quantitative NPTX2 hypermethylation as a novel serum diagnostic marker in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The majority of pancreatic cancers are found to be unresectable, and the only chance for cure lies on early detection and complete resection. Several genes have been discovered to be aberrantly methylated in primary pancreatic cancer tissue, and this cancer DNA can be detected in the plasma. The aims of this study were to develop a novel diagnostic marker based on epigenetic characteristics of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 104 patients with pancreatic cancer, 60 with chronic pancreatitis, and 5 with benign biliary stone diseases. The blood samples were collected before surgery or any kinds of treatment modalities. DNA was extracted from the plasma of each patient, and NPTX2 (neuronal pentraxin II) CpG island hypermethylation was examined quantitatively by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NPTX2 hypermethylation levels were significantly higher compared with chronic pancreatitis (P = 0.016). The sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 76%, respectively (cutoff = 0.015). NPTX2 gene hypermethylation level was significantly elevated in correlation with higher American Joint Committee on Cancer stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aberrantly methylated NPTX2 gene may help to distinguish between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer with conventional diagnostic tools and could become a valuable diagnostic marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji Kon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Won Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sang Hyub
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gyung Yub
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyoung-Sin
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yong-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000099153:Pentraxins