title: Tumor LINE-1 methylation level and microsatellite instability in relation to colorectal cancer prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypomethylation in long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) and high-degree microsatellite instability (MSI-high) in colorectal cancer (CRC) have been associated with inferior and superior survival, respectively; however, it remains uncertain whether the prognostic association of LINE-1 hypomethylation differs by MSI status. We hypothesized that the adverse prognostic association of LINE-1 hypomethylation might be stronger in MSI-high CRCs than in microsatellite stable (MSS) CRCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing 1211 CRCs in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, we examined patient survival according to LINE-1 hypomethylation status in strata of MSI status. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compute multivariable CRC-specific mortality hazard ratios (HRs) for a 10% decrease in LINE-1 methylation level (range = 23.1-93.1%), adjusting for potential confounders, including CpG island methylator phenotype, and KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations. Statistical tests (log-rank test, chi-square test, and likelihood ratio test) were two-sided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In MSI-high cancers, the association of LINE-1 hypomethylation with higher mortality (HR = 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.64 to 3.66, P < .001) was stronger than that in MSS cancers (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.98 to 1.24, P = .11) (P interaction < .001, between LINE-1 and MSI statuses). In MSI-high cases with CRC family history, the association of LINE-1 hypomethylation with higher mortality (HR = 5.13, 95% CI = 1.99 to 13.2; P < .001) was stronger than that in MSI-high cases without CRC family history (HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 0.89 to 2.94, P = .11) (P interaction = .02, between LINE-1 and CRC family history statuses).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of LINE-1 hypomethylation with inferior survival is stronger in MSI-high CRCs than in MSS CRCs. Tumor LINE-1 methylation level may be a useful prognostic biomarker to identify aggressive carcinomas among MSI-high CRCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lochhead
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Zhi Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuchiba
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Sun A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mima
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Seungyoun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Xuehong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Kana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Eunyoung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Meyerhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Curtis C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (KI, MY, RN, PL, ZRQ, AK, SAK, KM, YS, JAM, CSF, SO); Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KI, CCH); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (RN, AK, KW); Gastrointestinal Research Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK (PL); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SJ, XZ, EC, ATC, CSF); Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Province, RI (EC); Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (ATC); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (SO); Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (SO).
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D020084:Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology