title: Histone methylation defines an epigenetic entity in penile squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Earlier studies indicate that epigenetics contribute to the pathogenesis of penile squamous cell carcinoma. Histone methylation patterns are frequently altered during carcinogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the methylation pattern of the histones H3K4, H3K9 and H3K27 in penile carcinoma and normal tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tissue microarray was constructed with 65 penile carcinomas, 6 metastatic lesions and 30 control tissues. Global histone methylation was assessed using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Global levels of H3K4me1, H3K9me1, H3K9me2, H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 were decreased, whereas H3K9me3 was increased in penile carcinoma. Histone methylation levels defined an epigenetic entity that allowed accurate differentiation of cancer and normal samples. We observed no correlation of histone methylation levels with clinicopathological parameters or patient outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The description of a definite epigenetic entity in penile carcinoma provides a rationale for testing epigenetic agents in patients with metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany. sebastian.rogenhofer@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogenhofer
authors.forename: Herdis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miersch
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Göke
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.forename: Wolf F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Wieland
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hofstädter
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Ruecker
authors.forename: Stefan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006657:Histones