Abstract
BackgroundHigh-grade serous ovarian cancers are a distinct histological subtype of ovarian cancer often characterised by a dysfunctional BRCA/Fanconi anaemia (BRCA/FA) pathway, which is critical to the homologous recombination DNA repair machinery. An impaired BRCA/FA pathway sensitises tumours to the treatment with DNA cross-linking agents and to PARP inhibitors. The vast majority of inactivating mutations in the BRCA/FA pathway are in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and occur predominantly in high-grade serous cancer. Another member of the BRCA/FA pathway, PALB2 (FANCN), was reported to have been inactivated by DNA methylation in some sporadic ovarian cancers. We therefore sought to investigate the role of PALB2 methylation in high-grade serous ovarian cancers.FindingPALB2 methylation was investigated in 92 high-grade serous ovarian cancer samples using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis. DNA methylation of PALB2 was not detected in any of the ovarian cancer samples investigated.ConclusionEpigenetic silencing by DNA methylation of PALB2 is not a common event in high-grade serous ovarian cancers.
Highlights
High-grade serous ovarian cancers are a distinct histological subtype of ovarian cancer often characterised by a dysfunctional BRCA/Fanconi anaemia (BRCA/FA) pathway, which is critical to the homologous recombination DNA repair machinery
The largest group are high-grade serous ovarian cancers, of which a substantial proportion are characterised by an impaired BRCA/Fanconi anaemia (BRCA/FA) pathway [2,3]
The BRCA/FA pathway is a key part of the homologous recombination DNA repair machinery and includes the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes as well as members of the Fanconi anaemia complementation group
Summary
High-grade serous ovarian cancers are a distinct histological subtype of ovarian cancer often characterised by a dysfunctional BRCA/Fanconi anaemia (BRCA/FA) pathway, which is critical to the homologous recombination DNA repair machinery. Conclusion: Epigenetic silencing by DNA methylation of PALB2 is not a common event in high-grade serous ovarian cancers. The largest group are high-grade serous ovarian cancers, of which a substantial proportion are characterised by an impaired BRCA/Fanconi anaemia (BRCA/FA) pathway [2,3].
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.