Methylation of SFRP1 gene promoter in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma tissue

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between SFRP1 gene and clinicopathologic features of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) , and to explore the possible mechanism of action of SFRP1 in the occurrence and development of CSCC. Methods CSCC and paracarcinomatous tissue specimens were obtained from 40 patients with CSCC, and normal skin tissue specimens from 40 healthy human controls. The EpiTYPER assay was conducted to evaluate the methylation status of SFRP1 gene promoter in all the specimens with a MassARRAY mass spectrometer. Results Totally, the methylation status of 1951 (86.52%, 1951/2255) CpG motifs were evaluated in 17 CpG loci in 2 fragments of the SFRP1 gene promoter. The methylation rate significantly differed in 10 (10/17, 58.82%) CpG loci between the CSCC and paracarcinomatous tissue specimens, and in 5 (5/17, 29.41%) CpG loci between the paracarcinomatous and normal tissue specimens (all P< 0.05). Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the methylation rates of three CpG loci (CpG 1_5, CpG 1_7, CpG 2_8) in the SFRP1 gene promoter between tissue specimens from different pathological grades of CSCC (P< 0.05) , and their methylation rates sequentially decreased from grade Ⅲ to grade Ⅱ and Ⅰ. Conclusion The frequency of methylation is high in the SFRP1 gene promoter in patients with CSCC, and the SFRP1 gene may participate in the occurrence and development of CSCC. Key words: Carcinoma, squamous cell; DNA methylation; Signal transduction; SFRP1; Gene promoter