Analysis of the methylation status of secreted frizzled-related protein genes in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the methylation status of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) 1 and SFRP2 genes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the relationship between the methylation status of the two genes and the development of HCC.Methods Using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) to detect methylation status of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes of 45 specimens of HCC tissue and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissue from HCC patients during operations,and 6 normal liver tissues from patients with cholecystolithiasis or hepatic hemangiomas. The data were analyzed by chi-square test and Fisher exact test. Results SFRP1 gene methylation was detected in 28 HCC tissues and 16 adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues,accounted for 62.2% and 35.6%,respectively;and SFRP2 gene methylation was detected in 23 HCC tissues and 13 adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues,accounted for 51.1% and 28.9%,respectively;while no methylation was detected in 6 samples of normal liver tissues. There was no significant difference between the methylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes in HCC tissues and gender,age,HBV serum markers,types of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues,metastasis and pathological stage (P＞0.05).The abnormal methylation status between SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes was linear correlated in HCC tissues (r=0.381,P=0.01).Conclusion Hypermethylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes frequently occurs in HBV-related HCC,which may be an important molecular biomarker for prediction of hepatocarcinogenesis in the future.