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Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
07:50

Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer

Published on: September 18, 2020

Changes in UNC5C gene methylation during human gastric carcinogenesis

Kenji Hibi1, Makiko Sakata, Kazuma Sakuraba

  • 1Department of Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Aoba-ku, Yokohama 227-8501, Japan. kenjih-ngy@umin.ac.jp

Anticancer Research
|December 25, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Aberrant methylation of the UNC5C gene was observed in gastric cancer, particularly in earlier stages. This UNC5C gene methylation, a netrin-1 receptor, was found to be less prevalent in advanced gastric carcinomas.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • UNC5C is a netrin-1 receptor and a member of the functional dependence receptor family.
  • Functional dependence receptors induce apoptosis when their ligands are absent.
  • Aberrant UNC5C gene methylation is implicated in colon carcinogenesis (69% of cases).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate UNC5C gene methylation status in gastric cancer.
  • To correlate UNC5C methylation with clinicopathological features of gastric cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used.
  • UNC5C methylation status was analyzed in 36 primary gastric carcinomas and adjacent normal tissues.
  • Clinicopathological findings were correlated with methylation status.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant UNC5C gene methylation was detected in 25% (9 out of 36) of primary gastric carcinomas.
  • A significant correlation was found between UNC5C methylation and TNM stage (p=0.0455).

Conclusions:

  • UNC5C methylation occurs during gastric carcinogenesis.
  • UNC5C methylation appears to be lost in advanced stages of gastric cancer.

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