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Methylation analysis of cancer-related genes in non-neoplastic cells from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

Early detection of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is important to reduce mortality rates and to help provide successful cancer treatment. Hypermethylation of CpG islands is a common epigenetic mechanism that leads to gene silencing in tumors and could be a useful biomarker in OSCC. Abnormal DNA hypermethylation can occur very early in cancer development and may be induced by exposure to environmental carcinogens. We set out to investigate the methylation status of cancer-related genes in normal oral exfoliated cells from OSCC patients and healthy volunteers, as well as possible associations with alcohol/tobacco exposure or specific tumor characteristics. The methylation status of CDKN2A (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A or p16), SFN (stratifin or 14-3-3 σ), EDNRB (endothelin receptor B) and RUNX3 (runt-related transcript factor-3) was evaluated by MSP (Methylation-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis in non-neoplastic oral epithelial cells from OSCC patients (n = 70) and cancer-free subjects (n = 41). Hypermethylation was observed in CDKN2A, EDNRB and SFN genes, whereas no methylation was found in the RUNX3 gene. CDKN2A hypermethylation occurred only in the OSCC group (5.7%) while SFN and EDNRB hypermethylation occurred in both groups. There was no association between hypermethylation and smoking, drinking habits or specific tumor characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from FACITEC/ES and Fibria ®. We would like to thank PRPPG–UFES for donating methylSEQr™ Bisulfite Conversion Kits. MFCS was sponsored by a CAPES scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Núcleo de Genética Humana e Molecular, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Marechal Campos, 1468. Maruípe, Vitória, ES, 29040-090, Brazil

    Melissa de Freitas Cordeiro-Silva & Iúri Drumond Louro

  2. Programa de Prevenção e Detecção Precoce do Câncer Bucal, Setor de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Av. Marechal Campos, 1579. Santos Dumont, Vitória, ES, 29040-091, Brazil

    Zilda Fagundes Lima Oliveira & José Roberto Vasconcelos de Podestá

  3. Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Marechal Campos, 1468. Maruípe, Vitória, ES, 29040-090, Brazil

    Sonia Alves Gouvea

  4. Departamento de Patologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Marechal Campos, 1468. Maruípe, Vitória, ES, 29040-090, Brazil

    Sandra Ventorin Von Zeidler

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  1. Melissa de Freitas Cordeiro-Silva
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  2. Zilda Fagundes Lima Oliveira
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Correspondence to Iúri Drumond Louro.

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de Freitas Cordeiro-Silva, M., Oliveira, Z.F.L., de Podestá, J.R.V. et al. Methylation analysis of cancer-related genes in non-neoplastic cells from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Biol Rep 38, 5435–5441 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0698-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0698-1

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