Hypermethylation of p16 tumor-suppressor gene in ameloblastic carcinoma, ameloblastoma, and dental follicles.
OBJECTIVE
The high rate of p16 gene alterations in malignant neoplasms suggests the important effect of this tumor-suppressor gene mutation on the malignant behavior of tumoral lesions. The present study investigated the possible methylation of the p16 tumor in ameloblastic carcinoma, ameloblastoma, and dental follicles.


METHODS
Eighteen samples of ameloblastic carcinoma, ameloblastoma, and dental follicles of mandibular impacted third molar were selected from available documents in the archives of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Taleghani Hospital and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. After confirming the initial diagnosis, 6-μm sections were used for DNA extraction. A CpG island methylation of p16 was identified by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Although CpG methylation of p16 was observed in all ameloblastic carcinoma samples, only 1 ameloblastoma specimen exhibited the mutation. The mutation was not detected in other ameloblastoma specimens or in any dental follicle sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The p16 alteration might play a role in the malignant progression of ameloblastic carcinoma. It is worth mentioning that ameloblastoma can be further differentiated from ameloblastic carcinoma based on molecular observations.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. arashkhojasteh@yahoo.com
Arash
A
Khojasteh
Abbas
A
Khodayari
Farzaneh
F
Rahimi
Mohamad Hossain
MH
Ghaderian
Mohamad
M
Jafarian
Alireza
A
Nayebi
Reza
R
Akbarzadeh Najar
Akram
A
Tabatabayipanah
Alireza
A
Jahangirnia
D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology