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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2008; 14(21): 3421-3424
Published online Jun 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3421
Hypermethylation and aberrant expression of secreted fizzled-related protein genes in pancreatic cancer
Xian-Min Bu, Cheng-Hai Zhao, Ning Zhang, Feng Gao, Shuai Lin, Xian-Wei Dai
Xian-Min Bu, Feng Gao, Shuai Lin, Xian-Wei Dai, Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Cheng-Hai Zhao, Ning Zhang, Department of Pathophysiology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Bu XM, Zhao CH and Dai XW designed the research; Bu XM, Zhao CH, Zhang N, Gao F and Lin S performed the research; Bu XM and Zhao CH analyzed the data; Bu XM wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Xian-Wei Dai, Professor of Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. xianweidai@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-24-83956512
Fax: +86-24-23892617
Received: November 7, 2007
Revised: January 23, 2008
Accepted: January 30, 2008
Published online: June 7, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To determine the methylation status and aberrant expression of some secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) genes in pancreatic cancer and explore their role in pancreatic carcinogenesis.

METHODS: Methylation status and expression of SFRP genes were detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSPCR) and reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) respectively.

RESULTS: The frequencies of methylation for SFRP genes 1, 2, 4, 5 were 70%, 48.3%, 60% and 76.7% in pancreatic cancer samples, and 21.7%, 20%, 10% and 36.7% in matched cancer adjacent normal tissue samples, respectively (χ2 = 28.23, P < 0.0001 for SFRP gene 1; χ2 = 10.71, P = 0.001 for SFRP gene 2; χ2 = 32.97, P < 0.0001 for SFRP gene 4; χ2 = 19.55, P < 0.0001 for SFRP gene 5). Expression loss of SFRP genes 1, 2, 4 and 5 was found in 65%, 40%, 55% and 71.7% of 60 pancreatic cancer samples, and 25%, 15%, 18.3% and 31.7% of matched cancer adjacent normal tissue samples, respectively (χ2 = 19.39, P < 0.0001 for SFRP gene 1; χ2 = 9.40, P = 0.002 for SFRP gene 2; χ2 = 17.37, P < 0.0001 for SFRP gene 4; χ2 = 19.22, P < 0.0001 for SFRP gene 5). SFRP gene 1 was methylated but not expressed in PC-3 and PANC-1, SFRP gene 2 was methylated but not expressed in PANC-1 and CFPAC-1, SFRP gene 4 was methylated but not expressed in PC-3, and SFRP gene 5 was methylated but not expressed in CFPAC-1.

CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation and aberrant expression of SFRP genes are common in pancreatic cancer, which may be involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Keywords: Hypermethylation; Secreted frizzled-related protein; Pancreatic cancer