Detection and significance of abnormal methylation of Ras association domain family 1A gene in serum of non-small cell lung cancer patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the promoter region methylation of Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) gene in serum of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and its clinical significance.Methods The promoter region methylation of RASSF1A in the serum of 62 patients with NSCLC,30 patients with benign pulmonary disease and 16 health subjects was detected by gene sequencing,and its relationship with clinical features was analyzed.Results The detection rate of RASSF1A methylation was 45.16 % (28/62) in NSCLC patients,and RASSF1A methylation was not detected in the serum of patients with benign pulmonary disease and health subjects ( P <0.05).In NSCLC patients,the methylation rate of RASSF1A gene in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ was higher than that in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,the methylation rate of RASSF1A gene in poorly differentiated and undifferentiated group was higher than that in highly and moderately differentiated group ( P < 0.05),and there was no correlation between methylation rate of RASSF1A gene and age,sex,smoking index,pathological type.Conclusions Abnormal methylation of RASSF1 A may play an important role in the development of NSCLC,and it is hopeful to become a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC. Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer; Ras association domain family lA; DNA methylation; DNA sequence analysis; Serum