ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of methylation state of C5 of the cytosine in the CpG di nucleotide of caspase 8 promoter on tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) antitumor activity in gastric carcinomas. Methods The methylation states of the caspase 8 promoter region of 5 kinds of gastric carcinoma strains were measured by methylation specific PCR method. The antitumor activity of TRAIL protein was measured by MTT method. Results No methylation of caspase 8 promoter was found in gastric carcinoma cells. Treatment with demethylation agent 5 Aza 2′ deoxycytidine (5 Aza CdR) increased sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to TRAIL, but did not change methylation status of caspase 8 promoter in gastric carcinoma cells. Conclusion Caspase 8 promoter methylation status is not associated with TRAIL antitumor activity.