Detection of p16 promoter methylation in the serum of oral cancer patients

Detection of p16 promoter methylation in the serum of oral cancer patients
Accepted 25 August 2005
Y. Nakahara, S. Shintani, M. Mihara, S. Hino, H. Hamakawa
International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Abstract
P16 promoter methylation occurs frequently in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). For the early detection of tumour-related aberrant DNA, we examined p16 methylation using the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in tumour and serum samples of 17 OSCC patients. Aberrant p16 methylation was detected in 11 (64.7%) cases of primary OSCC. Of these 11 patients, 6 (54.5%) showed the same alteration in their serum. No methylation was found in control groups. Interestingly, DNA was detected in the serum of 3 out of 4 patients with recurrence. These results suggest that the MSP may be a sensitive and useful method for detecting recurrent OSCC.

Abbreviations: OSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma, MSP, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction
Key words: p16, methylation, serum, oral squamous cell carcinoma
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan

Address: Satoru Shintani, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ehime University School of Medicine, 454 Shitsukawa, Shigenobu-chou, Onsen-gun, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. Tel: +81 89 960 5392; Fax: +81 89 960 5396.

PII: S0901-5027(05)00305-X

doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2005.08.005

© 2005 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

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