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RASSF1A promoter methylation is frequently detected in both pre‐malignant and non‐malignant microdissected prostatic epithelial tissues
Author(s) -
Aitchison Alan,
Warren Anne,
Neal David,
Rabbitts Pamela
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.20475
Subject(s) - prostate , microdissection , pathology , epithelium , methylation , dna methylation , hyperplasia , cpg site , prostate cancer , tumor suppressor gene , biology , laser capture microdissection , cancer , cancer research , pca3 , carcinogenesis , medicine , gene , gene expression , genetics , biochemistry
Background The RASSF1A gene is a tumor suppressor gene inactivated by hypermethylation in a very wide variety of malignant tumors including prostate cancer. Methods In this study we have used laser capture microdissection to provide pure cell populations to investigate the methylation status of 16 CpG sites in the promoter region of this gene in prostatic intra‐epithelial neoplasia, in histologically normal epithelial cells associated with these lesions and in epithelial cells from benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results Unexpectedly, frequent methylation, detected by sequence analysis following bisulphite treatment, was observed in benign epithelium as well as in the lesions associated with prostatic intra‐epithelial neoplasia and at high risk of cancer formation. Fifty percent or more CpG sites were methylated in 7/14 prostatic intra‐epithelial neoplasms, 8/11 histologically normal epithelial cells and 8/12 specimens of benign prostatic tissue. Conclusion These observations suggest that methylation of the RASSF1A gene is present in both pre‐malignant and benign epithelia and suggests quantitation is required for it to be an effective marker of early prostate cancer. Prostate 67: 638–644, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.