The relationship between methylation of p16 INK 4/CDKN2 gene in promoter region and progress of squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the correlation between methylation of p16 gene in promoter region and the carcinogenesis and progression of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of buccal mucosa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Methylation of pl6 gene in SCC and leukoplakia of buccal mucosa was investigated by MSP and pl6 protein was analyzed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The methylation of p16 gene was found in 15 of 30 cases SCC and 1 of 10 cases of leukoplakia of buccal mucosa (P < 0.05). Methylation of p16 gene in SCC of buccal mucosa was not related with age, sex, cell differentiation and clinical stage. But methylation of p16 in the cases with lymph node-metastasis was higher than that in the cases without lymph node-metastasis protein (P < 0.05). Meanwhile Methylation of p16 gene was positively correlated with no-expression of p16 protein (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The methylation of p16 gene leaded to the inactivation of p16 gene and was related with the carcinogenesis and progress of SCC of buccal mucosa.</p>