Quantitative Detection of Promoter Methylation -a Potential Biomarker for Prognosis in Lung Cancer

Aberrant promoter methylation of tumor relevant genes frequently occurs in early steps of carcinogenesis and during tumor progression. Epigenetic alterations could be used as potential biomarkers for early detection and for prediction of prognosis and therapy response in lung cancer. The present study quantitatively analyzed the methylation status of known and potential gatekeeper and tumor suppressor genes [O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (), Ras association domain family member 1A (), Ras protein activator like 1 (), programmed cell death 4 (), metastasis suppressor 1 () and tumor suppressor candidate 3 ()] in 42 lung cancers and in corresponding non-malignant bronchus and lung tissue using bisulfite-conversion independent methylation-quantification of endonuclease-resistant DNA (MethyQESD). Methylation status was associated with clinical and pathological parameters. No methylation was found in the promoter regions of and of either compartment. , and showed sporadic (up to 26.2%) promoter methylation. The promoter of , however, was frequently methylated in the tumor (59.5%), benign bronchus (67.9%) and alveolar lung (31.0%) tissues from each tumor patient. The methylation status of was significantly associated with smaller tumor size (P=0.008) and a longer overall survival (P=0.013). Pooled blood DNA of healthy individuals did not show any methylation of either gene. Therefore, methylation of shows prognostic and pathobiological relevance in lung cancer. Furthermore, quantitative detection of promoter methylation appears to be a promising tool for early detection and prediction of prognosis in lung cancer. However, additional studies are required to confirm this finding.