Promoter Hypermethylation of Tumor-Associated Genes in Head and Neck Cancer

基因转录失活的一个重要途径是启动子区域CpG岛的高甲基化。一些肿瘤抑制基因已被报道在头颈癌中含有启动子高甲基化。我们研究了42例头颈癌组织中4种基因的DNA高甲基化状态。我们对p16、RAR-β、RASSF1A和FHIT基因进行了甲基化特异性聚合酶链式反应。P16基因高甲基化发生率为43%，RAR-β基因高甲基化发生率为40%，RASSF1A基因高甲基化发生率为12%，FHit基因高甲基化发生率为0。在42例患者中，26例(62%)检测到至少一个基因的高甲基化。甲基化之间没有明显的相关性。状态和临床病理结果或预后几个肿瘤相关基因的高甲基化在头颈部癌的发生中起重要作用。我们讨论了临床意义及其作为筛查和随访工具的应用。

An important pathway of gene transcriptional inactivation is hypermethylation at the CpG islands of promoter regions. Some tumor suppressor genes have been reported to harbor promoter hypermethylation in head and neck cancer. We studied DNA hypermethylation of 4 genes in 42 cases of primary head and neck cancer. We applied methylation-specific PCR for p16, RAR-β, RASSF1A, and Fhit genes. Hypermethylation was detected at p16 in 43%, at RAR-β in 40%, at RASSF1A in 12%, and at Fhit in none of the cases. Hypermethylation of at least one gene was detected in 26 (62%) of the 42 cases. No significant correlation was seen between methylation. status and clinicopathological findings or prognosis.Hypermethylation of several tumor-associated genes plays an important role in tumorigenesis of head and neck cancer. We discuss clinical implications and their application as a screening and follow-up tools.