Hypermethylation of the p16 Gene in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

摘要: We have recently reported that inactivation of the p16 gene by mutation and deletion is common in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present study demonstrates hypermethylation 5' CpG island can serve as an alternative mechanism for this tumor. Using Southern blotting analysis multiplex PCR, aberrant methylation was found a NPC xenograft (xeno-666) 6 (22%) 27 primary tumors, but not normal tissues nasopharynx. In its newly derived cell line (cell-666), both showing gene, no expression found. After treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, reexpression detected cell-666. These findings suggest may participate transcriptional NPC. results further support critical target on chromosome 9p21 during development disease.