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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Methyl-binding DNA capture Sequencing for Patient Tissues
Published on: October 31, 2016
Breast Cancer Sera Changes in Alu Element Methylation Predict Metastatic Disease Progression
Sikrit Denariyakoon1, Charoenchai Puttipanyalears2, Kris Chatamra1
1Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
Background/Aim:
During metastatic disease development, the cancer-immune system crosstalk induces epigenetic modifications to immune cells, impairing their functions. Recently, Alu elements methylation changes were widely studied in terms of early cancer detection. This study aimed to demonstrate in vitro Alu element methylation changes in peripheral immune cells in a metastatic setting and examine their prognostic values in metastatic breast cancer.
Materials And Methods:
Sera from sixteen metastatic cancer patients and sixteen healthy participants were obtained and used to culture normal peripheral immune cells. After 48 h of incubation, the percentage and pattern of Alu element methylation were examined for clinical relevance.
Results:
We found that the Alu element hypomethylation was affected by age in the cancer group. Intriguingly, a decrease in Alu element methylation was found in patients with early progressive disease. Moreover, an increase in unmethylated cytosine (mCuC) loci was related to the poorer prognosis group. Accordingly, the decrease in Alu element methylation and the increase in mCuC loci pattern in peripheral immune cells correlated with poorer prognosis and early progression in metastatic breast cancer.
Conclusion:
Alu element hypomethylation in immune cells and their increased mCuC foci were related to the early progression of breast cancer. These warrant the use of Alu element methylation changes for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in breast cancer.
