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5'-Cytosine DNA-methyltransferase mRNA levels in hereditary colon carcinoma

C A Jakob1, I Guldenschuh, R Hürlimann

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Virchows Archiv : an International Journal of Pathology
|March 10, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Levels of DNA methyltransferase mRNA in colon adenomas were higher in hereditary colon cancer patients but too variable for screening. This finding impacts understanding of DNA methylation in cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • DNA methylation is crucial for gene expression regulation.
  • Altered DNA methylation is observed in tumors, suggesting roles in mutagenesis and tumor suppressor gene silencing.
  • The precise mechanisms and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) expression levels in colon cancer remain unclear, with conflicting reports.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of 5'-cytosine DNA methyltransferase in colon biopsies from patients with hereditary colon carcinoma syndromes.
  • To compare these levels with those in a control group.
  • To assess the potential of DNA methyltransferase mRNA levels as a predictive marker for hereditary colon cancer screening.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.
  • Quantified 5'-cytosine DNA methyltransferase mRNA in colon biopsies.
  • Compared samples from patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) against a control group.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in 5'-cytosine DNA methyltransferase mRNA levels was found between the flat mucosa of FAP patients and the control group.
  • Adenomas from both FAP and HNPCC patients showed significantly higher (P<0.05) 5'-cytosine DNA methyltransferase mRNA levels compared to flat mucosa within the same patient groups.
  • A high degree of patient-to-patient variability was observed in mRNA levels for both adenomas and flat mucosa.

Conclusions:

  • The mRNA levels of 5'-cytosine DNA methyltransferase in colon biopsies exhibit significant variability.
  • Elevated levels in adenomas compared to flat mucosa were observed in hereditary colon cancer syndromes.
  • These findings indicate that 5'-cytosine DNA methyltransferase mRNA levels are not suitable as a predictive marker for screening in families affected by hereditary colon carcinoma.

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