Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2008; 14(19): 3074-3080
Published online May 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3074
Detection of RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in serum from gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients
Yu-Cai Wang, Zheng-Hong Yu, Chang Liu, Li-Zhi Xu, Wen Yu, Jia Lu, Ren-Min Zhu, Guo-Li Li, Xin-Yi Xia, Xiao-Wei Wei, Hong-Zan Ji, Heng Lu, Yong Gao, Wei-Min Gao, Long-Bang Chen
Yu-Cai Wang, Zheng-Hong Yu, Chang Liu, Long-Bang Chen, Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Yu-Cai Wang, Li-Zhi Xu, Wen Yu, Xiao-Wei Wei, Long-Bang Chen, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu Province, China
Yu-Cai Wang, Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston TX 77030, United States
Jia Lu, Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX 77030, United States
Ren-Min Zhu, Hong-Zan Ji, Heng Lu, Department of Gastroenterology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Guo-Li Li, Xiao-Wei Wei, Yong Gao, Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Xin-Yi Xia, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Wei-Min Gao, Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX 79409, United States
Author contributions: Wang YC and Yu ZH contributed equally to this work; Wang YC, Yu ZH, Gao WM and Chen LB designed the research; Wang YC, Liu C, Xu LZ, Yu W, Zhu RM, Li GL, Xia XY, Wei XW, Ji HZ, Lu H and Gao Y performed the research; Wang YC and Lu J analyzed the data; Wang YC, Yu ZH, Lu J and Chen LB wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Long-Bang Chen, Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. chenlongbang@yeah.net
Telephone: +86-25-80860123
Fax: +86-25-84824051
Received: February 26, 2008
Revised: April 27, 2008
Published online: May 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic role of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSPCR) was used to examine the promoter methylation status of the serum RASSF1A gene in 47 gastric adenocarcinoma patients, 45 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, 60 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease (30 with benign gastric disease and 30 with benign colorectal disease), and 30 healthy donor controls. A paired study of RASSF1A promoter methylation status in primary tumor, adjacent normal tissue, and postoperative serum were conducted in 25 gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients who later were underwent surgical therapy.

RESULTS: The frequencies of detection of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric (34.0%) and colorectal (28.9%) adenocarcinoma patients were significantly higher than those in patients with benign gastric (3.3%) or colorectal (6.7%) disease or in healthy donors (0%) (P < 0.01). The methylation status of RASSF1A promoter in serum samples was consistent with that in paired primary tumors, and the MSPCR results for RASSF1A promoter methylation status in paired preoperative samples were consistent with those in postoperative serum samples. The serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation did not correlate with patient sex, age, tumor differentiation grade, surgical therapy, or serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. Although the serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation frequency tended to be higher in patients with distant metastases, there was no correlation between methylation status and metastasis.

CONCLUSION: Aberrant CpG island methylation within the promoter region of RASSF1A is a promising biomarker for gastric and colorectal cancer.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Colorectal cancer; Gene methylation; RASSF1A