Abstract 4793: Aberrant methylation of CDH1 correlates with poor prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Objective: CDH1 codes for E-cadherin, a key adhesion molecule of epithelial cells, whose loss of expression has been associated with carcinogenesis in several types of cancer. Promoter hypermethylation of CDH1 results in loss of expression of E-cadherin and may be involved in the development of metastasis and a poorer prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the methylation profile of CDH1 in a cohort of HNSCC patients and evaluated its association with clinicopathological parameters. Methods: CDH1 methylation status was determined using the Methylight assay in a cohort of 59 patients that had CDKNA (p16) methylation status assessed previously. Correlations between clinical parameters and methylation profiles were statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and chi-square test when appropriate. Results: Aberrant methylation of CDH1 was detected in 78% of the cases analyzed. In 33% of the patients had also CDKN2A aberrantly methylated. Most patients (69%) with CDH1 aberrantly methylated were in advanced stages of the disease (III/IV). They also had a poorer survival rate. No statistically significant association was found between CDH1 hypermethylation and gender, age, risk factors and staging. Conclusion: CDH1 aberrantly methylated was detected at early and late stages of the disease. These results suggest that CDH1 hypermethylation may have a role in the initiation and in progression of HNSCC and potentially reduce the survival of HNSCC patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4793. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4793