Methylation-specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Research Articles

Methylation changes at the GNAS imprinted locus in pancreatic cystic neoplasms are important for the diagnosis of malignant cysts.

BACKGROUNDGuanine nucleotide-binding protein, alpha stimulating (GNAS) mutations are characteristic of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) harboring GNAS mutations originate in IPMNs. GNAS is a complex imprinted locus that produces five transcripts regulated by differential methylated regions, NESP55, GNASAS, GNASXL, GNAS1A, and GNAS.AIMTo evaluate if methylation changes in the differential methylated regions of GNAS locus contributed to malignant progression of pancreatic cysts.METHODSGNAS locus methylation was analyzed in archival pancreatic cyst fluid (PCF) obtained by endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration by methylation specific–multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification. Results were normalized and analyzed using Coffalyser.Net software.RESULTSFifty-two PCF samples obtained by endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration and previously characterized for KRAS and GNAS mutations were studied. The final diagnoses were surgical (11) and clinicopathological (41), including 30 benign cysts, 14 pre-malignant cyst, and eight malignant cysts. Methylation changes at NESP55, GNASAS, GNAS1A, and especially GNASXL were more frequent in malignant cysts, and NESP55 and GNASAS were useful for diagnosis. A combined variable defined as “GNAS locus methylation changes” was significantly associated with malignancy (6/8 malignant cysts and only 2/20 benign cysts) and improved classification. Hypermethylation in both maternally (NESP55) and paternally (GNASXL) derived promoters was found in 3/3 PDACs.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study to identify methylation changes in the GNAS locus, improving the diagnosis of malignant pancreatic cysts and suggesting a role in progression to PDAC.

Methylation patterns in dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Background and aims: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with colonic involvement increases colorectal cancer risk. However, the distinction between IBD related and sporadic dysplasia in IBD patients is difficult. Some data favors the importance of abnormal DNA methylation in IBD-related carcinogenesis. We aimed to define methylation patterns in patients with colonic cancer or dysplasia diagnosis following an IBD diagnosis.Methods: Multicentric cross-sectional study-91 samples from colonic mucosa with/without dysplasia from 9 patients with IBD-related dysplasia/cancer and 26 patients with IBD and sporadic dysplasia/cancer were included. Methylation patterns of CpG islands in the promoter regions of 67 genes were studied by Methylation-specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification.Results: Mean age at IBD diagnosis: 42 ± 16 years;at dysplasia diagnosis: 56 ± 14 years. Twenty-ninepatients had ulcerative colitis. Twenty-five patients had at least 1 lesion endoscopically described as adenoma-like, 4 at least 1 non-adenoma like, 3 had cancer and 3 had dysplasia in flat mucosa. No patient had both adenoma-like and non-adenoma-like lesions. Patients with an IBD-related lesion were significantly younger at IBD diagnosis (p = .003) and at dysplasia/cancer diagnosis (p = .039). Promoter methylation of IGF2, RARB, ESR1, CHFR, CDH13, WT1, GATA5, WIF1genes was significantly associated to dysplasia/cancer; methylation of MSH6, TIMP3 was significantly associated to IBD-related dysplasia/cancer. Promoter methylation of MSH6, MSH3, RUNX3, CRABP1, TP73, RARB, CDH13, PAX5, WT1, THBS1, TP53, SFRP1, WIF1, APAF1, BCL2 genes was significantly associated to active IBD.Conclusions: Methylation analysis, namely of MSH6, may contribute to the classification of dysplastic lesions in IBD– to be further tested in prospective studies.

Newborn screening for Prader-Willi syndrome is feasible: Early diagnosis for better outcomes.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), is a complex genetic disease affecting 1/15,000 individuals, characterized by lack of expression of genes on the paternal chromosome 15q11-q13 region. Clinical features include central hypotonia, poor suck, learning and behavior problems, growth hormone deficiency with short stature, hyperphagia, and morbid obesity. Despite significant advances in genetic testing, the mean age for diagnosis in PWS continues to lag behind. Our goal was to perform a pilot feasibility study to confirm the diagnosis utilizing different genetic technologies in a cohort of 34 individuals with genetically confirmed PWS and 16 healthy controls from blood samples spotted and stored on newborn screening (NBS) filter paper cards. DNA was isolated from NBS cards, and PWS testing performed using DNA methylation-specific PCR (mPCR) and the methylation specific-multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) chromosome 15 probe kit followed by DNA fragment analysis for methylation and copy number status. DNA extraction was successful in 30 of 34 PWS patients and 16 controls. PWS methylation testing was able to correctly identify all PWS patients and MS-MLPA was able to differentiate between 15q11-q13 deletion and non-deletion status and correctly identify deletion subtype (i.e., larger Type I or smaller Type II). mPCR can be used to diagnose PWS and MS-MLPA testing to determine both methylation status as well as the type of deletion or non-deletion status from DNA extracted from NBS filter paper. We propose that PWS testing in newborns is possible and could be included in the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel after establishing a validated cost-effective method.

Somatic Testing on Gynecological Cancers Improve the Identification of Lynch Syndrome.

Recent data from the literature indicate gynecological cancers (GCs) as sentinel cancers for a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome (LS). Clinical approaches to identifying LS have low sensitivity, whereas somatic tests on GCs may be a more sensitive and cost-effective strategy. A series of 78 GCs belonging to 74 patients sent to the Genetic Counselling Service were investigated using microsatellite instability, immunohistochemical expression of mismatch repair (MMR) genes, and MLH1 promoter methylation. The presence of microsatellite instability was observed in 67.5% of GCs, and the absence of immunohistochemical expression of at least 1 of the 4 MMR proteins was observed in 71.4% of GCs, showing 96.1% concordance between the methods. Methylation analysis using methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification performed on 35 samples revealed MLH1 promoter hypermethylation in 18 cases (54%). Molecular analysis identified 36 LS carriers of MMR variants (27 pathogenetic and 9 variants of uncertain significance), and, interestingly, 3 LS patients had MLH1 methylated GC.With regard to histological features, LS-related GCs included endocervical cancers and also histological types different from the endometrioid cancers. The presence of peritumoral lymphocytes in GCs was statistically associated with LS tumors. Somatic analysis is a useful strategy to distinguish sporadic from LS GC. Our data allow the identification of a subset of LS patients otherwise unrecognized on the basis of clinical or family history alone. In addition, our results indicate that some clinicopathological features including age of GC diagnosis; presence of peritumoral lymphocytes; isthmic, endocervical sites, and body mass index value could be useful criteria to select patients for genetic counseling.

Clinical and Genetic Study of Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1b in Hong Kong Chinese

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP-1b) is a rare congenital imprinting disease characterized by parathyroid hormone resistance, normal neurodevelopment and no feature of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. It is caused by genetic and epigenetic defect of GNAS locus located at chromosome 20q13.32 region. We here have reported a case series of three cases of PHP-1b in Hong Kong Chinese. Two were sporadic and one was autosomal dominant (AD) subtype. All of them were identified by methylation specific-multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification method. The AD PHP-1b case had typical 3-kb STX16 gene deletion. There was no paternal uniparental disomy chromosome 20 for those sporadic cases. Although PHP-1b had been well studied in western population, it is rarely reported in Chinese. This study is the first comprehensive study of PHP-1b for Hong Kong Chinese in the literature. With more awareness and better understanding of PHP-1b, it will result in judicious use of genetic testing and better medical management of this orphan disease. J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;6(2):64-70 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jem337w

DNA methylation assessment as a prognostic factor in invasive breast cancer using methylation-specific multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification.

DNA methylation of promoter regions is a common molecular mechanism for inactivation of tumor suppressor genes that participates in carcinogenesis. Determining the methylation status of genes in cancer and their association with clinical features play an essential role in early diagnosis, prognosis and determine appropriate treatment for patients. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the methylation of tumor suppressor genes in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Furthermore, we evaluated the association between clinical parameters and DNA methylation as a biomarker in diagnostic IDC patients. The methylation-specific multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay was used to analyze the methylation profile of 24 genes in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from 75 patients with IDC. Each of the patients showed a distinctive methylation profile. We observed higher methylation in the RASSF1 (48 %), CDH13 (44 %) and GSTP1 (36 %) genes. Some of the methylated genes were associated with clinical features. Methylation of GSTP1 (P=0.028) and RASSF1 (P=0.012) were related with lymph node metastasis. Methylation of GSTP1 (P=0.005) was associated with high histological grade. Moreover, concurrent methylation of GSTP1 and CDH13 was observed in IDC patients (p<0.001). Hierarchical cluster analysis based on the methylation profile revealed two main clusters of patients, the highly methylated cluster being significantly associated with high histological grade and lymph node metastasis. The results of this study indicate that the methylation status of RASSF1 and CDH13 and GSTP1 can be a prognostic marker to better management of IDC patients.

EG-02 * CORRELATION OF MGMT PROMOTER METHYLATION STATUS ANALYSIS USING 6 MS-MLPA PROBES AND CLINICAL RESPONSE OF TEMOZOLOMIDE IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS

INTRODUCTION: For patients diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is an important predictive factor for treatment with temozolomide (TMZ). MGMT reverses the toxic effect of alkylating chemotherapies like TMZ, therefore absence of the MGMT protein, due to promoter hypermethylation, results in greater tumor response and prolonged survival. MGMT methylation status can be determined using Methylation Specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MS-MLPA). Previous research has documented the predictive value of MGMT MS-MLPA probe mix ME011-A1 containing 3 MGMT probes, but no documentation is available for the current commercially available MS-MLPA probe mix ME011-B containing 6 MGMT probes. The aim of this study is to determine the predictive value of MGMT promoter methylation status for GBM patients using the ME011-B probe mix. METHODS: Patients were included if diagnosed with GBM and treated with TMZ. Retrospectively 102 patients were evaluated for MGMT promoter methylation using the MS-MLPA probe mix ME011-B. Methylation status was compared to clinical outcome to determine the predictive value of MS-MLPA promoter methylation status determined by ME011-B probes. Comparison of methylation status with clinical response was also used to determine which combination of probes provides the best prediction of the response to TMZ. RESULTS: Preliminary MS-MLPA results of 79 patients indicate that the number of patients with promoter hypermethylation in tumors ranges from 15%-67% depending on the probe using a cut-off value of >25%. However, when eliminating the lowest and highest probe and calculating the mean, 65% of the tumors show hypermethylation. CONCLUSION: MGMT promoter methylation status was determined using MS-MLPA probe mix ME011-B, results indicate that over half of the patients diagnosed with GBM might benefit from TMZ therapy. Obtaining clinical response of patients and further analysis is necessary to determine the predictive value of MGMT promoter methylation status determined by MS-MLPA ME011-B probes.

Promoter hypermethylation using 24-gene array in early head and neck cancer

Silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) by DNA promoter hypermethylation is an early event in carcinogenesis and a potential target for personalized cancer treatment. In head and neck cancer, little is known about the role of promoter hypermethylation in survival. Using methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) we investigated the role of promoter hypermethylation of 24 well-described genes (some of which are classic TSGs), which are frequently methylated in different cancer types, in 166 HPV-negative early oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), and 51 HPV-negative early oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) in relation to clinicopathological features and survival. Early OSCC showed frequent promoter hypermethylation in RARB (31% of cases), CHFR (20%), CDH13 (13%), DAPK1 (12%), and APC (10%). More hypermethylation (≥ 2 genes) independently correlated with improved disease specific survival (hazard ratio 0.17, P = 0.014) in early OSCC and could therefore be used as prognostic biomarker. Early OPSCCs showed more hypermethylation of CDH13 (58%), TP73 (14%), and total hypermethylated genes. Hypermethylation of two or more genes has a significantly different effect on survival in OPSCC compared with OSCC, with a trend toward worse instead of better survival. This could have a biological explanation, which deserves further investigation and could possibly lead to more stratified treatment in the future.

The clinical and molecular genetic study of 20 Silver Russell Syndrome cases

Methods 20 SRS cases diagnosed in Beijing Children’s Hospital from 2006 to 2011 were studied retrospectively for clinical manifestations, physical signs, laboratory examinations and respond of GH treatment. We compared with 3 different diagnostic criteria and used the methylationspecific multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) method to detect the chromosome 11p15 imprinting defects in 16 patients of them, meanwhile take 10 normal control.

Regulation of MLH1 mRNA and protein expression by promoter methylation in primary colorectal cancer: a descriptive and prognostic cancer marker study

In colorectal cancer MLH1 deficiency causes microsatellite instability, which is relevant for the patient's prognosis and treatment, and its putative heredity. Dysfunction of MLH1 is caused by sporadic gene promoter hypermethylation or by hereditary mutations as seen in Lynch Syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine in detail how DNA methylation regulates MLH1 expression and impacts clinical management. Colorectal cancer samples were collected from 210 patients. The laboratory methods used to study these samples included methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA), real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). We found that the MLH1 mRNA and protein expression levels were highly related. MS-MLPA was successful in tumors from 195 patients. In these tumors, hypermethylation was observed in promoter regions A (n = 57), B (n = 30), C (n = 28), and D (n = 47), and in intron 1 (n = 25). The promoter region C and intron 1 methylation levels were found to be excellently suited for discriminating between low and high gene expression levels, whereas those of promoter regions A, B and D were less specific. Hypermethylation in any region (n = 77) served as an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.89, p = 0.01). MLH1 inactivation through hypermethylation was found to be related to improved survival. Hypermethylation in promoter region C and intron 1 served as the most specific markers for this inactivation.

Optimizing the identification of anaplastic oligodendroglioma patients that benefit from adjuvant PCV chemotherapy using the Illumina platform: A further report from EORTC study 26951.

2011 Background: Adjuvant PCV chemotherapy improves overall survival (OS) in 1p/19q co-deleted grade 3 gliomas. Analyses of EORTC 26951 and RTOG 9402 suggest that other molecularly defined subsets of grade III tumors benefit as well. We previously identified a CpG-Island Hypermethylated Phenotype (CIMP+) as a candidate biomarker. This was further explored in a larger series using snap frozen (SF) or formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor material, and compared to the value of 1p/19q, IDH1/2 and MGMT status. Methods: Methylation profiles were assessed using the Infinium HumanMethylation 27 or 450 BeadChip (Illumina). MGMT promoter methylation was re-assessed with a logistic regression model (MGMT-STP27) using probes cg1243587 and cg12981137 of the platform as described (Bady et al, Acta Neuropathol 2012;124:547-60). These probes correspond to area’s of the promoter correlated to MGMT protein expression. Previously, MGMT promoter methylation had been assessed using methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA). Results: Methylation profiling was conducted in 115 patients. CIMP status correlation between FFPE and SF was excellent (R2 0.96). In multivariate analysis, 1p/19q co-deletion and CIMP status were independent prognostic factors. Although 1p/19q status and IDH mutational status identify subgroups with more benefit of PCV chemotherapy, tests for interaction remain negative (p 0.25 and 0.33 respectively); MGMTstatus (MS-MLPA) had no impact (p = 0.70). However, CIMP status was of borderline predictive significance (p= 0.07), and MGMT-STP27 was of statistical significance (p = 0.003; HR unmethylated 1.61, 95% CI [0.71, 3.66], HR methylated 0.37, 95% CI 0.23, 0.61]. Conclusions: CIMP status and MGMT promoter methylation assessed with Illumina HumanMethylation BeadChips appear the most informative tests for identifying grade III glioma patients benefitting from the addition of PCV to RT. Validation in an independent dataset is required. Clinical trial information: NCT00002840.

Abstract 1192: Triple negative breast cancer: BRCAness and concordance of clinical features and treatment response with BRCA1 mutation carriers.

Abstract Introduction Previous work from our group and other groups has shown that triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) frequently show BRCAness, the phenotype that some sporadic tumors share with BRCA-mutated cancers. We propose the use of a BRCA1-like genomic profile and of BRCA1 promoter methylation as indicators of BRCAness. In a randomized trial, tumors with this BRCA1-like profile responded more favorably to intensified alkylating chemotherapy. We now assessed the frequency of BRCAness in a large cohort of TNBCs. In addition, we determined the association with clinicopathological variables and treatment response. Methods A total of 388 TNBCs were included in this study. These were obtained from three different sources: a neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial (n=152), a series of patients from breast cancer families but without germline mutations (n=145), and a series of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (n=91). Two assays for BRCAness were employed: array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) to asses a BRCA1-like profile and methylation specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) to determine BRCA1 promoter methylation. BRCA1 germline mutation status was known for half of the patients. Clinicopathological characteristics were available for most patients, and chemotherapy response data was available for the neoadjuvant series. Results In the three series, 66% to 69% of the tumors had an aCGH BRCA1-like profile and 27% to 37% showed BRCA1 promoter methylation. 87% of the tumors with promoter methylation showed a BRCA1-like aCGH profile. A germline mutation in BRCA1 and somatic BRCA1 promoter methylation did not occut together (n=155; p = 10-6). Patients with aCGH BRCA1-like or BRCA1 methylated tumors were younger than patients with non-BRCA1-like or unmethylated tumors (p=0.02 and p&amp;lt;0.01, respectively). BRCA1 mutated tumors and aCGH BRCA1-like tumors were more often of histological grade 3 (97% vs. 74% (p&amp;lt;0.01) for BRCA1-mutated vs. BRCA1 wildtype and 86% vs 67% (p&amp;lt;0.01) for aCGH BRCA1-like vs. non-BRCA1-like tumors). BRCA1-mutated tumors had a higher response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy than BRCA1 wildtype tumors (71% vs. 37% (p=0.04) pathological complete remission rate). For aCGH BRCA1-like and BRCA1 methylated tumors, a non-significant trend for a better chemtherapy response was observed. Conclusion The majority of the TNBCs in this study show signs of BRCAness, and these tumors share clinicopathological characteristics with BRCA1 mutated tumors. Somatic BRCA1 promoter methylation and BRCA1 germline mutations are mutually exclusive events. A better characterization of TNBC and the presence of BRCAness will not only have consequences for treatment, but also for hereditary breast cancer screening. Citation Format: Esther H. Lips, Lennart Mulder, Lizet E. van der Kolk, Anne M.M. Oonk, Alex L.T. Imholz, Frans B.L. Hogervorst, Jelle Wesseling, Sjoerd Rodenhuis, Petra M. Nederlof. Triple negative breast cancer: BRCAness and concordance of clinical features and treatment response with BRCA1 mutation carriers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1192. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1192

Altered Expression of MGMT in High-Grade Gliomas Results from the Combined Effect of Epigenetic and Genetic Aberrations

MGMT downregulation in high-grade gliomas (HGG) has been mostly attributed to aberrant promoter methylation and is associated with increased sensitivity to alkylating agent-based chemotherapy. However, HGG harboring 10q deletions also benefit from treatment with alkylating agents. Because the MGMT gene is mapped at 10q26, we hypothesized that both epigenetic and genetic alterations might affect its expression and predict response to chemotherapy. To test this hypothesis, promoter methylation and mRNA levels of MGMT were determined by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) or methylation-specific multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively, in a retrospective series of 61 HGG. MGMT/chromosome 10 copy number variations were determined by FISH or MS-MLPA analysis. Molecular findings were correlated with clinical parameters to assess their predictive value. Overall, MGMT methylation ratios assessed by qMSP and MS-MLPA were inversely correlated with mRNA expression levels (best coefficient value obtained with MS-MLPA). By FISH analysis in 68.3% of the cases there was loss of 10q26.1 and in 15% of the cases polysomy was demonstrated; the latter displayed the highest levels of transcript. When genetic and epigenetic data were combined, cases with MGMT promoter methylation and MGMT loss depicted the lowest transcript levels, although an impact in response to alkylating agent chemotherapy was not apparent. Cooperation between epigenetic (promoter methylation) and genetic (monosomy, locus deletion) changes affecting MGMT in HGG is required for effective MGMT silencing. Hence, evaluation of copy number alterations might add relevant prognostic and predictive information concerning response to alkylating agent-based chemotherapy.

Methylation of a Novel Panel of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Urine Moves Forward Noninvasive Diagnosis and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer: A 2-Center Prospective Study

Changes in DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes early in carcinogenesis represent potential indicators of cancer detection and disease evolution. We examined the diagnostic, stratification and prognostic biomarker roles in urine of the methylation of a novel panel of tumor suppressor genes in bladder cancer. We evaluated the methylation of 18 tumor suppressor genes in 2 prospective, independent sets of urine samples (training set of 120 preparations and validation set of 128) from patients with bladder cancer (170) and controls (78) using methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Diagnostic performance was evaluated with ROC curves. Recurrence, progression and disease specific survival were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox models. PRDM2, HLTF, ID4, DLC1, BNIP3, H2AFX, CACNA1G, TGIF and CACNA1A were methylated in bladder cancer. CCND2, SCGB3A1, BNIP3, ID4 and RUNX3 were the most frequently methylated tumor suppressor genes in each urine set. Methylation of several tumor suppressor genes correlated with clinicopathological variables, such as stage, tumor grade, focality or age. ROC analysis revealed significant diagnostic accuracy for RUNX3 and CACNA1A in the training set, and for RUNX3 and ID4 in the validation set. On univariate and multivariate analysis CACNA1A methylation correlated with recurrence in the training set, while in the validation set PRDM2 and BNIP3 were significantly associated with recurrence and disease specific survival, respectively. Tumor suppressor gene methylation allowed for histopathological and clinical stratification. Urine methylation has noninvasive usefulness not only for diagnostic assessment but also as independent bladder cancer prognosticators.

A study of genomic instability in early preneoplastic colonic lesions

It is difficult to explain the differential rates of progression of premalignant colonic lesions and differences in behaviour of morphologically similar lesions. Heterogeneity for microsatellite instability (MSI) and promoter methylation in driving these phenomena forward may explain this; however, no previous analysis has examined this in detail at the gland level, the smallest unit of colorectal premalignant lesions. We aimed to carry out an analysis of gland level genomic instability for MSI and promoter methylation. MSI occurred significantly more frequently (20%) in colonic glands than has previously been observed in whole colorectal polyps. Significant promoter methylation was seen in MLH1, PMS2, MLH3 and MSH3 as well as significant heterogeneity for both MSI and promoter methylation. Methylation and MSI may have a significant role in driving forward colorectal carcinogenesis, although in the case of MSI, this association is less clear as it occurs significantly more frequently than previously thought, and may simply be a passenger in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Promoter methylation in MLH1, MLH3, MSH3 and PMS2 was also found to be significantly associated with MSI and should be investigated further. A total of 273 colorectal glands (126 hyperplastic, 147 adenomatous) were isolated via laser capture microdissection (targeted at regions of MLH1 loss) from 93 colonic polyps and tested for MSI, and promoter methylation of the DNA mismatch repair genes MLH1, MSH2, MLH3, MSH6, PMS2, MGMT and MLH3 via methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Logistic regression modelling was then used to identify significant associations between promoter methylation and gland histological type and MSI status.

GSTP1 hypermethylation is associated with reduced protein expression, aggressive disease and prognosis in neuroblastoma

Epigenetic modifications such as methylation of CpG islands in tumor-suppressor gene promoter regions have been associated with tumor development in many human cancers. Using methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification method, we analyzed the methylation status of 35 different genes in 16 neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines and 50 NB tumor samples (NBs), and investigated whether specific hypermethylation was associated with biological and/or clinical parameters. Among the genes found hypermethylated, the effect of GSTP1 hypermethylation on mRNA and protein expression was also explored. The median number of hypermethylated genes was higher in cell lines compared to NBs (5.5 vs. 2). For eight genes, aberrant methylation of CpG-islands in NB was not (ESR1, PAX5, WT1, CADM1, MSH6, and CDKN2B) or very rarely (CDH13 and GSTP1) reported in literature. GSTP1 was found hypermethylated in 44% of the NB cell lines and in 33% of the stage 4-11qLOH -non MYCN-amplified high risk NBs. Hypermethylation was correlated with reduced mRNA and protein expression. In the whole NBs cohort, GSTP1 hypermethylation was less frequently detected (8%), but found to be associated with lower event-free (EFS) and overall survival. Hypermethylation of GSTP1 showed also association with lower EFS in high risk subgroups as stage 4 and older patients (≥547 days). Our results suggest that, as in several adult cancers, aberrant methylation of GSTP1 may contribute to the carcinogenetic process in NB and could be potentially used as a new marker leading to define an ultra-high risk subgroup.

Using MS‐MLPA as an efficient screening tool for detecting 9p21 abnormalities in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Characterization of recurrent genetic lesions in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has enabled therapeutic stratification with improved outcomes. The tumor suppressor genes, CDKN2A and CDKN2B, encoding p16(INK4a) , p14(ARF) , and p15(INK4b) have been localized to 9p21. Abnormalities of 9p21 have been reported in 10-30% of childhood ALL using conventional cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The incidence of 9p21 using more sensitive techniques, such as methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA), remains uncertain, and thus also the prognostic significance. We investigated the incidence and prognostic importance of 9p21 abnormalities in pediatric ALL patients using MS-MLPA and compared these results to FISH. In total, MS-MLPA or FISH detected aberrations (both dosage and methylation abnormalities) at 9p21 in a remarkable 32/48 (67%) patients in contrast to a much lower rate of only 8% of patients identified to have deletions by standard G banding cytogenetics. MS-MLPA identified five deletions not found by FISH. Aberrant methylation at CDKN2B was found in 19 (46%) patients. 9p21 abnormalities were associated with National Cancer Institute (NCI) high-risk criteria (P = 0.04) and were present in all five patients with T-cell disease. Four pre-B-cell ALL patients relapsed, three of whom had prior 9p21 abnormalities. MS-MLPA had a higher detection rate for 9p21 abnormalities than previously reported for other techniques. Given the ease of processing, minimal equipment and low cost of MS-MLPA, our results suggest that previous reports may have underestimated the true frequency of 9p21 abnormalities and their potential impact upon ALL outcome.

DNA Methylation in Thyroid Tumorigenesis

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer with 1,690 deaths each year. There are four main types of which the papillary and follicular types together account for >90% followed by medullary cancers with 3% to 5% and anaplastic carcinomas making up <3%. Epigenetic events of DNA hypermethylation are emerging as promising molecular targets for cancer detection. Our immediate and long term goal is to identify DNA methylation markers for early detection of thyroid cancer. This pilot study comprised of 21 patients to include 11 papillary thyroid cancers (PTC), 2 follicular thyroid cancers (FTC), 5 normal thyroid cases, and 3 hyperthyroid cases. Aberrant promoter methylation was examined in 24 tumor suppressor genes using the methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay and in the NIS gene using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The frequently methylated genes were CASP8 (17/21), RASSF1 (16/21) and NIS (9/21). In the normal samples, CASP8, RASSF1 and NIS were methylated in 5/5, 4/5 and 1/5 respectively. In the hyperthyroid samples, CASP8, RASSF1 and NIS were methylated in 3/3, 2/3 and 1/3 respectively. In the thyroid cancers, CASP8, RASSF1, and NIS were methylated in 9/13, 10/13, and 7/13 respectively. CASP8, RASSF1 and NIS were also methylated in concurrently present normal thyroid tissue in 3/11, 4/11 and 3/11 matched thyroid cancer cases (matched for presence of both normal thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer), respectively. Our data suggests that aberrant methylation of CASP8, RASSF1, and NIS maybe an early change in thyroid tumorigenesis regardless of cell type.

Alterations of Copy Number of Methylation Pattern in Mismatch Repair Genes by Methylation Specific-Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification in Cases of Colon Cancer

Genetic alterations and changes in genomic DNA cytosine methylation patterns are associated with all types of cancer and are caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, predominantly MLH1 (MutL homolog 1, 19 exons) and MSH2 (MutS homolog 2, 16 exons). Genomic DNA was extracted from tissue samples embedded in paraffin from 49 patients with adenocarcinoma and from 21 patients with carcinoma for the study group; genomic DNA was extracted from lymphocytes from 10 healthy donors for the control group. We used methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-ML-PA), which allows the detection of copy number changes and unusual methylation levels of 10 to 50 different sequences in one reaction by use of the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme HhaI and sequence-specific capillary electrophoresis for the study of 24 genes.We found the mean methylation rates for MLH1 (97.14%), MSH2 (24.28%), MSH6 (MutS homolog 6) (67.14%), MSH3 (MutS homolog 3) (78.57%), MLH3 (MutL homolog 3) (75.71%), PMS2 (postmeiotic segregation increased 2) (65.71%), MGMT(O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase ) (82.85%). We conclude that the mismatch repair (MMR) system is critical for the maintenance of genomic stability.

The Incidence and Prognostic Significance of 9p21 Abnormalities In Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients – the IWK Experience

AbstractAbstract 1705 Background:Outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood malignancy, have improved significantly due to risk-based multi-agent chemotherapy strategies derived from diagnostic advances in cytogenetics and molecular biology. Characterization of recurrent genetic lesions has enabled further prognostic stratification on recent clinical trials. Abnormalities involving the short arm of chromosome 9 are well-documented in pediatric ALL. Three critical tumor suppressors: CDKN2a (p16INK4a), CDKN2b (p15INK4b) and p14ARF have been localized to band 9p21. While 9p21 abnormalities have been reported in 10% of childhood ALL, their prognostic significance remains uncertain and may depend on which of these genes are lost/inactivated. Moreover, 9p deletions may be cryptic and/or not readily identified by standard G-banding techniques. We investigated the incidence and prognostic significance of 9p21 abnormalities identified retrospectively in pediatric ALL patients. Methods:A total of 76 children were diagnosed with ALL at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 2000–2005. Cell pellets were available for analysis on 48 patients. Chart review was conducted retrospectively. Approval was obtained by the IWK Research Ethics Board. 9p21 abnormalities were assessed by two modalities: 1) fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) using a commercial p16 probe; and 2) methylation specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA), using SALSA MLPA kit ME024-A1 9p21 CDKN2A/2B region (MRC Holland). Results:Of the 48 samples studied by FISH, 18 (38%) had a 9p21 deletion, only 4 of which were previously identified by G-banding. MLPA was performed on 40 samples and identified a total of 18 (45%) patients with a 9p21 deletion, 5 of which were not identified by FISH. Aberrant methylation at CDKN2b (p15INK4b) was found by MLPA in 19 patients (46%). Overall, 32 of 48 (67%) patients were determined to have an abnormal 9p21, representing a substantially greater frequency than previously reported. The detection rate for deletions at 9p21 between FISH and MLPA, was not statistically different (p=0.31). Interestingly, all patients with T-cell disease (n=5) had an abnormal 9p21, suggesting an association between this immunophenotype and 9p21 abnormalities (p=0.02). Overall, 9p21 abnormalities were associated with National Cancer Institute (NCI) high risk criteria (p=0.04), specifically white blood cell count >50,000/μL at diagnosis (p=0.019) and a higher percentage of leukemic blasts in the peripheral blood (p=0.016). Only four B-cell lineage patients in our cohort relapsed, three of which had 9p21 abnormalities and one of these ultimately died of disease. Conclusions:Using FISH and MLPA, our study has revealed a much higher incidence of 9p21 abnormalities in childhood ALL than has previously been described. Moreover, our findings demonstrate an association with high risk features and possibly inferior prognosis. It is possible that the lack of consistent reports linking 9p21 abnormalities to prognosis are related to suboptimal ascertainment. A small sample size in our study prevents the conclusive determination of an independent prognostic impact. However, our results justify the need for a larger multi-center investigation to evaluate how 9p21 abnormalities might affect ALL outcome and possibly influence future risk stratification for determining treatment. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.