title: Application of multiplex nested methylated specific PCR in early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the application of multiplex nested methylated specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and fresh tissue samples were collected from 114 EOC patients. RUNX3, TFPI2 and OPCML served as target genes. Methylation levels of tissues were assessed by multiplex nested methylated specific PCR, the results being compared with those for carcinoma antigen 125 (CA125).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum free deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) methylation spectrum of EOC patients was completely contained in the DNA spectrum of cancer tissues, providing an accurate reflection of tumor DNA methylation conditions. Serum levels of CA125 and free DNA methylation in the EOC group were evidently higher than those in benign lesion and control groups (p<0.05). Patients with early EOC had markedly lower serum CA125 than those with advanced EOC (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in free DNA methylation (p>0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predicative value (PPV) of multiplex nested methylated specific PCR were significantly higher for detection of all patients and those with early EOC than those for CA125 (p<0.05). In the detection of patients with advanced EOC, the PPV of CA125 detection was obviously lower than that of multiplex nested methylated specific PCR (p>0.05), but there was no significant difference in sensitivity (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum free DNA methylation can be used as a biological marker for EOC and multiplex nested methylated specific PCR should be considered for early diagnosis since it can accurately determine tumor methylation conditions.
authors: Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang, China E-mail : 775438959@qq.com.
authors: Bi
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Yu
authors: Guo-Zhen
authors: GZ
authors: Yang
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Luo
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C059785:OPCML protein, human; C493729:Runx3 protein, human; C021240:tissue-factor-pathway inhibitor 2