WNT5A gene is aberrantly methylated from the early stages of colorectal cancers

Recently, it has been reported that WNT5A methylation was frequently detected in colorectal cancers. However, the relationship between the WNT5A methylation and the characteristics of these cancers remains unknown.

Methylation status of the WNT5A gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 49 patients with colorectal cancer using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and the correlation between the methylation status and the clinicopathological findings was evaluated.

Aberrant methylation of the WNT5A gene was detected in 17 out of the 49 (35%) primary colorectal cancers. The clinicopathological data were correlated with the methylation results. All stages of colorectal cancers presented WNT5A methylation.

WNT5A gene has been methylated from the early stages of colorectal cancers.