Obesity and occupational dust exposures are factors that increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer, in particular squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus. Here, we tested whether these factors could also affect aberrant DNA methylation. DNAs from 44 fresh tumor tissues and 19 non-tumor adjacent normal tissues, obtained from 44 patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE), were studied for methylation at the CDKN2A/p16 gene promoter by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay (MSP). Statistical methods were used to assess associations with bio-pathological, clinical and personal information data, including obesity and airborne exposures. Methylation at the CDKN2A/p16 gene promoter was detected in 12 out of 44 tumor samples. None of the non-tumor tissues exhibited the aberrant methylation. Our results confirmed the previously described significant association with low tumor stage (p=0.0021); in addition, we revealed that obesity (p=0.00142) and occupational exposure (p=0.000146) were both significantly associated with CDKN2A/p16 promoter methylation. This study provides evidence that obesity and occupational exposure may possibly increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer through an enhancement of CDKN2A/p16 promoter methylation.
Associations of risk factors obesity and occupational airborne exposures with CDKN2A/p16 aberrant DNA methylation in esophageal cancer patients
MIOTTO, Elena;CALLEGARI, Elisa;NEGRINI, Massimo
2010
Abstract
Obesity and occupational dust exposures are factors that increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer, in particular squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus. Here, we tested whether these factors could also affect aberrant DNA methylation. DNAs from 44 fresh tumor tissues and 19 non-tumor adjacent normal tissues, obtained from 44 patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE), were studied for methylation at the CDKN2A/p16 gene promoter by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay (MSP). Statistical methods were used to assess associations with bio-pathological, clinical and personal information data, including obesity and airborne exposures. Methylation at the CDKN2A/p16 gene promoter was detected in 12 out of 44 tumor samples. None of the non-tumor tissues exhibited the aberrant methylation. Our results confirmed the previously described significant association with low tumor stage (p=0.0021); in addition, we revealed that obesity (p=0.00142) and occupational exposure (p=0.000146) were both significantly associated with CDKN2A/p16 promoter methylation. This study provides evidence that obesity and occupational exposure may possibly increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer through an enhancement of CDKN2A/p16 promoter methylation.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
