Underexpression of LATS1 TSG in colorectal cancer is associated with promoter hypermethylation

Figure 3 Large tumor suppressor 1 expression in colorectal cancer in relation to promoter methylation status. Comparison between large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) mRNA expression and epigenetic hypermethylation (M) or absence of hypermethylation (UM) of CpG islands located within the LATS1 promoter region in a total of 44 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases (black vertical bars, n = 25 for M and n = 19 for UM). Vertical bars represent the LATS1 fold ratio calibrated to the average C_t of control (ΔΔC_t^LATS1 = ΔC_t^{LATS1, sample} - ΔC_t^{LATS1, control}), error bars: SE. CRC cases were further divided into two subgroups: absence or presence of metastasis in lymph nodes/distant organs: N0M0: Light grey bars (n = 20; M: n = 9; UM: n = 11); N1-2/M0-1: Dark bars (n = 24; M: n = 16; UM: n = 8), respectively. ^aP < 0.05 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05 between subgroups (Mann-Whitney U test).