Differential gene methylation in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Thian Sze Wong
    • Kwong Chi Tang
    • Dora Lai-Wen Kwong
    • Jonathan Shun-Tong Sham
    • William Ignace Wei
    • Yok Lam Kwong
    • Anthony Po-Wing Yuen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 1, 2003     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.22.4.869
  • Pages: 869-874
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Abstract

Differential gene methylation is observed in a variety of human malignancies. The study of the pattern of methylated genes helps to understand carcinogenesis and to identify potential marker tumor genes for clinical use. The differential methylated genes in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) of Chinese were studied by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). Methylation status of 11 tumor-associated genes (ARF, caspase-8, CDH1, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, MGMT, MLH1, RASSF1A, THBS1, TP73 and VHL) was studied in 30 primary undifferentiated NPC and paired peripheral blood of 12 patients. The methylation profile of NPC in order of frequency was CDH1 (50%), CDKN2B (50%), THBS1 (50%), RASSF1A (46%), MLH1 (40%), MGMT (28%), CDKN2A (23%), TP73 (20%), caspase-8 (7%), ARF (3%) and VHL (0%). Methylation of at least 1 gene was observed in 93% of primary NPC. Of the 12 patients with at least 1 methylated gene in the primary tumor, all 12 (100%) patients had at least 1 of the methylated gene promoter detectable in their peripheral blood. The results show high frequency of methylation in NPC and the potential of using methylation as peripheral blood tumor marker in screening NPC.

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April 2003
Volume 22 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Wong TS, Tang KC, Kwong DL, Sham JS, Wei WI, Kwong YL and Yuen AP: Differential gene methylation in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Oncol 22: 869-874, 2003
APA
Wong, T.S., Tang, K.C., Kwong, D.L., Sham, J.S., Wei, W.I., Kwong, Y.L., & Yuen, A.P. (2003). Differential gene methylation in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. International Journal of Oncology, 22, 869-874. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.22.4.869
MLA
Wong, T. S., Tang, K. C., Kwong, D. L., Sham, J. S., Wei, W. I., Kwong, Y. L., Yuen, A. P."Differential gene methylation in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma". International Journal of Oncology 22.4 (2003): 869-874.
Chicago
Wong, T. S., Tang, K. C., Kwong, D. L., Sham, J. S., Wei, W. I., Kwong, Y. L., Yuen, A. P."Differential gene methylation in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma". International Journal of Oncology 22, no. 4 (2003): 869-874. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.22.4.869