Mapping of ER gene CpG island methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction

Cancer Res. 1998 Jun 15;58(12):2515-9.

Abstract

Southern analysis has shown that DNA from 25% of primary estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-negative breast tumors displays aberrant methylation at one site within the ER gene CpG island. To examine more sites and increase sensitivity, we developed a methylation-specific PCR assay to map methylation of the entire ER CpG island. The island was unmethylated in normal breast tissue and ER-positive breast cancer cell lines, but extensively methylated in all ER-negative cell lines and breast tumors examined. In addition, some of the ER-positive/progesterone receptor-negative and ER-positive/progesterone receptor-positive tumors (about 70% and 35%, respectively) displayed methylation of the ER CpG island, suggesting that this heterogeneity within tumor cell populations could potentially shed light on the etiology of ER-negative recurrent tumors arising from ER-positive tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • CpG Islands / genetics*
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Genetic Markers
  • Receptors, Estrogen