title: Methylation of the homeobox gene, HOPX, is frequently detected in poorly differentiated colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homeodomein only protein x (HOPX) gene methylation has frequently been detected in cancer tissues. The methylation status of the HOPX gene in colorectal cancer was examined and compared to the clinocopathological findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine tumor samples and corresponding normal tissues were obtained from colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgery at our hospital. The methylation status of the HOPX gene in these samples was examined by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). Subsequently, the clinicopathological findings were correlated with the methylation status of the HOPX gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HOPX gene methylation was found in 46 (52%) out of the 89 colorectal carcinomas, suggesting that it was frequently observed in colorectal cancer. A significant increase of methylation was observed in the poorly differentiated carcinomas (p=0.0049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HOPX gene methylation could play an important role for the development of colorectal cancer and is closely related to the histological type.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterological Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, 1-30 Fujigaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama 227-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikuni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kijima
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinmura
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakuraba
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokomizo
authors.forename: Youhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirahata
authors.forename: Tetsuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Gaku
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kigawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hibi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers