Mesothelioma Publication - DNA Methylation Profiles

This is an abstract of an article about DNA methylation profiles in diagnosing mesothelioma.  The article was published at PubMed by the NIH.

Tsou JA, Shen LY, Siegmund KD, Long TI, Laird PW, Seneviratne CK, Koss MN, Pass HI, Hagen JA, Laird-Offringa IA.
Norris Cancer Center and Department of Surgery and Biochemistry, Room NOR 6420, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9176, USA.
Lung Cancer. 2005 Feb;47(2):193-204.

DNA methylation markers provide a powerful tool to make diagnoses based on genetic material obtained directly from tumors or from "remote" locations such as sputum, pleural fluid, or serum.

In particular when limited cell numbers are available, amplifyable DNA markers can provide a very sensitive tool for cancer detection and classification. Malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure, can be difficult to distinguish from adenocarcinoma of the lung when limited material is available.

In an attempt to identify molecular markers for MM and adenocarcinoma, we examined the DNA methylation status of 14 loci. Analysis of methylation levels in 10 MM and 8 adenocarcinoma cell lines showed that methylation of APC was significantly elevated in adenocarcinoma compared to MM cell lines (P=0.0003), while methylation of CDH1 was higher in MM (P<0.02). Subsequent examination of the methylation status of the 14 loci in 6 MM and 7 adenocarcinoma primary tumors, which yielded similar methylation profiles, supported these observations.

Comparison of methylation in MM cell lines and tumors versus non-tumor lung tissue indicated that APC exhibits less methylation in MM (P=0.003) while RASSF1, PGR1, ESR1, and CDH1 show more methylation in MM, the latter two showing the most significant difference between the two tissue types (P< or = 0.0001). Comparison of methylation in adenocarcinoma cell lines and tumors versus non-tumor lung tissue showed methylation of ESR1, PGR1 and RASSF1 to be significantly elevated in adenocarcinoma, with RASSF1 being most significant (P=0.0002).

Thus, with the examination of 14 loci, we have identified 5 candidates that show potential for distinguishing between MM, adenocarcinoma and/or non-cancer lung. Our observations support the strong potential of methylation markers as tools for accurate diagnosis of neoplasms in and around the lung.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your case. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.