Abstract 4039: Loss of imprinting in PEG3, MEST and ARHI/DIRAS3 in invasive breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Genomic imprinting is the epigenetic regulation of genes to enable monoallelic expression according to parental origin. Imprinting is established in the germline and is particularly important in the regulation of fetal development; loss of imprinting (LOI) has been implicated in the development of a variety of childhood disorders and several cancer types. We investigated loss of imprinting in PEG3, MEST and ARHI/DIRAS3 in breast cancer. Blood and tissue samples from women with benign breast disease or no abnormalities (n = 52) and patients with invasive breast cancer (n = 37) were provided by the Clinical Breast Care Project at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, USA). DNA extracted from the samples was bisulfite converted and the methylation status of the three genes determined by pyrosequencing. Loss of PEG3 imprinting was observed in 2% of benign tissues and 34% of invasive cancers. LOI in MEST was similarly observed in 4% of benign tissues and 39% of invasive cancers, while in ARHI/DIRAS3 it was observed in 11% of benign samples and 54% of invasive ones. LOI was not observed in blood samples for any of the three genes, suggesting that these epigenetic alterations are highly tissue-specific. There was no correlation between the methylation profiles of the three genes (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient; p = >0.25). Loss of imprinting in PEG3, MEST and ARHI/DIRAS3 appears to be a frequent event in breast cancer, and it is more common in invasive forms than benign proliferative breast disease. The impact of the observed methylation changes upon allele-specific expression is currently investigated. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4039. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4039