ecancermedicalscience

Short Communication

Detection of methylation in the CpG islands of the P16INK4A, RASSF 1A and methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoters in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

15 Jan 2009
D Paikos, P Stravoravdi, S Voyatzi, I Boukovinas, P Papakotoulas, A Kiziridou, G Sibilidis, I Stergiou

Pancreatic cancer consists of an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Recently, aberrant methylation of CpG islands of cancer-related genes has emerged as an important epigenetic mechanism of their transcriptional dysregulation during tumour development [1]. Therefore, new diagnostic methods, for early detection based on a better understanding of the molecular biology of pancreatic cancer, are required. We examined the methylation status of p16INK4A, RASSF 1A and methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) genes considered to be inactivated by promoter methylation in several tumours.

The p16INK4A is an important G1/S cell cycle regulator gene [2]. RASSF 1A gene is involved in apoptotic signalling, microtubule stabilization and cell cycle progression [3]. The MGMT gene removes mutagenic and cytotoxic alkyl-adducts from the O6-position of guanine in DNA. Hypermethylation of the gene leads to the inactivation of DNA repair and to microsatellite instability [4].

To date, little is known about the exact role of hypermethylation of these genes in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, as the molecular mechanisms underlying these neoplasms remain poorly understood.

Related Articles

Gustavo Hipólito Diaz Infantes, Edgar Fermín Yan Quiroz, Luis Fernando Meza Montoya, José Richard Tenazoa Villalobos
Francis Okongo, Catherine Amuge, Alfred Jatho, Nixon Niyonzima, David Martin Ogwang, Jackson Orem
Carlos A. Castaneda, Miluska Castillo, Joselyn Sanchez, Luis Bernabe, Katherin Tello, Nancy Suarez, Raul Alatrista, Ximena Quiroz-Gil, Alexandra Granda-Oblitas, Javier Enciso, Nathaly Enciso, Henry L Gomez
Natalia Camejo, Camila Montenegro, Dahiana Amarillo, Cecilia Castillo, Gabriel Krygier
Gonzalo Javier Ziegler-Rodriguez, Miguel Ángel Pinillos Portella, Gabriel De la Cruz Ku, Sheila Eunice Vílchez Santillan, Jorge Dunstan Yataco, José Antonio Galarreta Zegarra, Gabriela Calderón Valencia, José Manuel Cotrina Concha