Analysis of promoter methylation of four cancer-related genes in samples of cervical tissue with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and early squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Objectives Promoter methylation of some cancer-related genes may occur in many cancers and also in their precancerous lesions. This study examined adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), glutathione S-transferase, pi-class (GSTP1), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) genes to assess if they are sensitive methylation markers when used to detect high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and early cancer in cervical tissues. Materials and methods DNA was obtained from 11 HSILs, 20 samples of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ (SCIS), and 16 samples of early SCC. The promoter methylation status of the selected genes was assessed using a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). Results One SCC sample was noninformative for all four genes. Five of the remaining samples were informative for three genes and 41 samples for all four genes. The rate of detection rate of at least one gene in the SCC group (60.0%, 9/15) was significantly higher than in the HSIL group (27.2%, 3/11) and the SCIS group (15.0%, 3/20) group ( p  = 0.025). The highest detection rate for PTGS2 was seen in the SCIS group (11.1%, 2/18) with the highest rates for APC (20.0%, 3/15), GSTP1 (7.1%, 1/14), and RARB (28.6%, 4/14) in the SCC group. Only RARB exhibited a significantly higher detection rate in the SCC group than in the other two groups ( p  = 0.027). Conclusion The results confirmed that promoter methylation of APC, GSTP1, PTGS2, and RARB is not prevalent in cervical tissues with HSIL or cancer. They are not sensitive methylation markers when used to detect these lesions in cervical tissues.