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Updated: May 18, 2026

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

MPP3 inactivation by promoter CpG islands hypermethylation in colorectal carcinogenesis

Xiao Feng1, Kequan Chen, Shicai Ye

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.

Cancer Biomarkers : Section a of Disease Markers
|September 27, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Epigenetic inactivation of the tumor suppressor MPP3 occurs frequently in colorectal cancer, suggesting its potential as a novel biomarker for molecular classification.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The tumor suppressor gene MPP3 (Drosophila discs large tumor suppressor homologue-3) is frequently inactivated in carcinomas via promoter hypermethylation.
  • The role of MPP3 alterations in colorectal carcinogenesis remains uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of MPP3 inactivation in colorectal tumorigenesis.
  • To evaluate MPP3 as a potential epigenetic biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • MPP3 mRNA expression and promoter methylation were analyzed in colorectal cancer cell lines and primary tumors.
  • Correlations between MPP3 expression, DNA methylation, and clinicopathological features were assessed.

Main Results:

  • MPP3 expression loss was observed in 33.3% of cell lines and 43.5% of primary colorectal carcinomas.
  • MPP3 promoter hypermethylation correlated significantly with reduced expression (80% vs 7.7%) and advanced tumor stage (57.1% vs 11.1%).
  • Re-expression of MPP3 was observed upon treatment with 5-aza-dC, confirming epigenetic silencing.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic inactivation of MPP3 is a frequent event in colorectal cancer development.
  • MPP3 may serve as a valuable biomarker for the molecular classification of colorectal cancer patients.

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