Gene Methylation and Cytological Atypia in Random Fine-Needle Aspirates for Assessment of Breast Cancer Risk.
Methods to determine individualized breast cancer risk lack sufficient sensitivity to select women most likely to benefit from preventive strategies. Alterations in DNA methylation occur early in breast cancer. We hypothesized that cancer-specific methylation markers could enhance breast cancer risk assessment. We evaluated 380 women without a history of breast cancer. We determined their menopausal status or menstrual cycle phase, risk of developing breast cancer (Gail model), and breast density and obtained random fine-needle aspiration (rFNA) samples for assessment of cytopathology and cumulative methylation index (CMI). Eight methylated gene markers were identified through whole-genome methylation analysis and included novel and previously established breast cancer detection genes. We performed correlative and multivariate linear regression analyses to evaluate DNA methylation of a gene panel as a function of clinical factors associated with breast cancer risk. CMI and individual gene methylation were independent of age, menopausal status or menstrual phase, lifetime Gail risk score, and breast density. CMI and individual gene methylation for the eight genes increased significantly (P < 0.001) with increasing cytological atypia. The findings were verified with multivariate analyses correcting for age, log (Gail), log (percent density), rFNA cell number, and body mass index. Our results demonstrate a significant association between cytological atypia and high CMI, which does not vary with menstrual phase or menopause and is independent of Gail risk and mammographic density. Thus, CMI is an excellent candidate breast cancer risk biomarker, warranting larger prospective studies to establish its utility for cancer risk assessment. Cancer Prev Res; 9(8); 673-82. ©2016 AACR.
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Vered
V
Stearns
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Mary Jo
MJ
Fackler
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Sidra
S
Hafeez
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Zoila Lopez
ZL
Bujanda
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Robert T
RT
Chatterton
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Lisa K
LK
Jacobs
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Nagi F
NF
Khouri
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
David
D
Ivancic
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Kara
K
Kenney
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Christina
C
Shehata
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Stacie C
SC
Jeter
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Judith A
JA
Wolfman
Mercy Hospital, Miami, FL.
Carola M
CM
Zalles
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Peng
P
Huang
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Seema A
SA
Khan
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Saraswati
S
Sukumar
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000071060:Breast Density; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone