Methylation and messenger RNA expression of p15INK4b but not p16INK4a are independent risk factors for ovarian cancer

Zhensheng Liu, Li E. Wang, Luo Wang, Karen H. Lu, Gordon B. Mills, Melissa L. Bondy, Qingyi Wei

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to compare methylation status and mRNA expression of p15INK4b and p16INK4a in serous epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and normal ovarian tissues. Experimental Design: We analyzed the DNA methylation status and mRNA expression of p16 INK4b and p16INK4a in 52 ovarian cancer specimens and 40 normal ovarian specimens by using methylation-specific PCR and real-time reverse transcription PCR, respectively. Results: Although the p16INK4b and p16INK4a mRNA expression levels were highly correlated with each other (P < 0.001). the methylation status did not seem to be linked with levels of mRNA expression, as no essociation between the two events was found for either gene. Promoter hypermethylation of p15INK4b was more common in ovarian cancer (30.8% for the 52 cases) than in normal ovaries (5% for the 40 controls without ovarian cancer; P = 0.005) but not methylation of p16INK4a (25% for cancer versus 37.5% for normal; P = 0.288). The relative mRNA expression levels of p15INK4b were significantly lower in ovarian cancer (12.9%) than in normal ovaries (41.7% P = 0.008) but not those of p16INK4a (27% for cases versus 32.8% for controls; P = 0.754). Only high methylation rate and low mRNA expression of p15INK4b wre independent risk factors for ovarian cancer (adjusted odds ratio 6.67; 95% confidence interval 0.85-37.9 for high menthylation rate and odds ratio 8.98; 95% confidence interval 1.58-50.9 for low mRNA expression, resppectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that epigenetic alterations in p15 INK4b but not p16INK4a have an important role in ovarian carcinogenesis and that mechanisms other than methylation may exist to reduce gene expression of p15INK4b in ovarian cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4968-4976
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume11
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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