Evaluation of GNMT Gene Expression in Prostate Cancer Tissues using Real-Time PCR

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the present study, the expression level of glycine N-methyl transferase gene (GNMT) was investigated in prostate cancer tissue. The GNMT enzyme is encoded by the GNMT gene. Increased GNMT gene expression increases the conversion of glycine to sarcosine and results in the elevated levels of sarcosine in blood and urine. Methods: The expression level of GNMT gene in tissue samples of patients with prostate cancer was compared with those with benign prostatic hyperplasia using Real-Time PCR technique. Results: The GNMT gene expression level increased significantly in prostate cancer patients compared with those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (p-value <0.001). In addition, the expression level of GNMT gene was stage-dependent and  significant increases were observed in all stages of prostate cancer compared with those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The concentration of sarcosine is controlled by GNMT and it seems that increasing the expression level of GNMT gene increases the level of sarcosine concentration. Thus, it appears that increased levels of GNMT expression occur in the early stages of prostate cancer. Therefore, periodic measurement of GNMT expression levels can detect prostate cancer before it forms a cancer cell and invades other tissues.