Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
12:34
DNA Methylation: Bisulphite Modification and Analysis
Published on: October 21, 2011
Quantification of methylated markers with a multiplex methylation-specific technology
Hongzhi Zou1, Hatim Allawi, Xiaoming Cao
1Exact Sciences Corporation, Madison, WI, 53719, USA. hzou@exactsciences.com
Clinical Chemistry
|December 24, 2011
Summary
Quantitative allele-specific real-time target and signal amplification (QuARTS) efficiently quantifies methylated gene markers for colorectal cancer screening. This multiplex assay shows high accuracy in detecting colorectal neoplasia from healthy tissues.
Area of Science:
- Molecular diagnostics
- Cancer biomarkers
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Aberrantly methylated genes are crucial for cancer diagnosis.
- Multiplex detection of these markers is vital for clinical applications like colorectal cancer screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a multiplex detection approach for quantifying methylated gene markers.
- To evaluate the QuARTS technology for clinical applications in colorectal cancer screening.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative allele-specific real-time target and signal amplification (QuARTS) was employed.
- Multiplex QuARTS assays were developed to quantify methylated BMP3, NDRG4, VIM, and TFPI2 genes in 91 colorectal tissue DNA samples.
- Percent methylation was calculated using ACTB as a reference gene.
Main Results:
- QuARTS demonstrated linear detection down to 10 copies with no cross-reactivity.
- The assay detected methylated genes at a 0.01% ratio.
- At 95% specificity, the markers detected 84-92% of colorectal cancers and 68-88% of adenomas.
Conclusions:
- QuARTS technology offers a promising method for quantifying methylated markers.
- The selected markers effectively distinguish colorectal neoplasia from healthy tissues.
