title: Pyrosequencing Analysis of APC Methylation Level in Human Prostate Tissues: A Molecular Marker for Prostate Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epigenetic alterations such as abnormal DNA methylation are associated with many human cancers. Differences in methylation patterns between neoplastic and normal cells can be used to detect cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of detecting Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) hypermethylation by quantitative pyrosequencing for discriminating between normal and prostate cancer (PCa) cells and for predicting tumor behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 218 human prostate tissues obtained from our institute were assessed: 106 specimens of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 112 specimens of PCa. The methylation status of APC was analyzed by quantitative pyrosequencing. The association between the APC methylation level and clinicopathological parameters was explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of APC methylation was significantly higher in PCa specimens than in BPH specimens (33.3%±20.7% vs. 1.3%±1.8%, p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of APC methylation status in discriminating between PCa and BPH reached 89.3% and 98.1%, respectively. Similar results were obtained after stratification by stage, Gleason score, and prostate-specific antigen level. The APC methylation level correlated positively with Gleason score (p trend=0.016). There was no association between the APC methylation level and the PSA level or staging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that APC methylation is associated with PCa and its aggressive tumor features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Young-Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ho Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Won Tae
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Joong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Sang-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wun-Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong-June
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Adenomatous polyposis coli; Biological markers; DNA methylation; Prostatic neoplasms; Sequence analysis