Vimentin methylation as a marker for advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recently, it was shown that the Vimentin gene, usually activated in mesenchymal cells, was highly methylated in colorectal carcinoma. Moreover, Vimentin methylation can be applied for the screening or as a diagnostic tool of colorectal carcinomas in the fecal DNA test.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The methylation status of the Vimentin gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 48 patients with colorectal cancer using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and the correlation between the methylation status and the clinicopathological findings was evaluated.

RESULTS:

Aberrant methylation of the Vimentin gene was detected in 31 out of 48 (65%) primary colorectal carcinomas. This result suggested that the aberrant methylation of the Vimentin gene was frequent in colorectal carcinomas. Subsequently, clinicopathological data were correlated with the methylation score. A significant difference was observed in age and Dukes' stage (p = 0.001 and p = 0.034, respectively). Moreover, a trend was shown toward preferentially developing liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination in colorectal carcinomas with Vimentin methylation (p = 0.052 and p = 0.080, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

Vimentin was frequently methylated in advanced colorectal carcinoma.

• Authors: Atsushi Shirahata, Makiko Sakata, Kazuma Sakuraba, Tetsuhiro Goto, Hiroki Mizukami, Mitsuo Saito, Kazuyoshi Ishibashi, Gaku Kigawa, Hiroshi Nemoto, Yutaka Sanada, Kenji Hibi
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 29 Issue 1 Pg. 279-81 (Jan 2009) ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 19331162 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Vimentin

Topics

• Aged
• Colorectal Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)
• DNA Methylation
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Vimentin (genetics)