RÉSUMÉ
Background:CpG island methylator phenotype(CIMP)involving tumor suppressor gene( TSG)on short arm of chromosome 3(chromosome 3p)has been found in various types of cancers. However,its correlation with gastric cancer has not been clarified. Aims:To study the clinical significance of CIMP involving TSG on chromosome 3p in gastric cancer. Methods:Methylation specific PCR(MSP)was used to examine methylation profiles for hOGG1,VHL,RAR-B, hMLH1,SEMA3B,RASSF1A,BLU and FHIT harbored in chromosome 3p in 100 gastric cancer and paired paracancerous tissues. High CIMP( CIMP-H)was referred for those samples having four or more synchronously methylated genes. Relationship between CIMP-H and clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancer was analyzed. Results:Positive methylation rates of VHL(P = 0. 030),hMLH1(P 0. 05). Conclusions:CIMP on chromosome 3p may occur in early stage of oncogenesis of gastric cancer,and influencing tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis.