Objective: To determine the methylation status of the tumor suppressor gene p16 in patients with renal carcinoma by analysis of microsatellite polymorphisms.
Methods: 40 patients with sporadic renal cancer were studied. Tumor and normal tissue from each patient were tested for methylation status of the p16 gene by analysis of microsatellite polymorphisms.
Results: 20% showed methylation of p16. No correlation was found between this genetic alteration and tumor features.
Conclusions: Methylation of p16 was found in 20% of the patients in this series. According to the analysis, 18.5% of renal cell carcinomas showed methylation, 50% of chromophobe cell carcinomas and 25% of carcinomas of Bellini's tubules. The rest of the histological types showed no methylation.