Effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on activity and mRNA expression of DNMT in gliomas / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the activity and mRNA expression of DNA methyltransferase(DNMT) in gliomas and the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on them. Methods A total of 30 cases of glioma were divided in four groups operation group, treatment groups A(operation+chemotherapy), B(operation+radiotherapy) and C(operation+radiotherapy +chemotherapy). Group A was treated with VM 26 and Semustine MeCCNU, B with continuous external radiation with X ray accelerated by 10MV accelerator. Fresh tissues removed surgically were used for the detection of the DNMT activity of tumors by 3H labeled tracing microassay and DNMT mRNA expression by RT PCR. Results The 2 year survival rate of the patients treated by chemotherapy or /and radiotherapy increased significantly, but the activity and the mRNA expression of DNMT decreased significantly. Conclusion DNMT is involved in the genesis and development of gliomas. The curative effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be related with DNMT activity and expression. Detection of DNMT activity and DNMT mRNA may play an important role in the prognosis of gliomas and choice of treatment regimens.