Detection of Promoter Hypermethylation of RASSF1 A and Clinical Signif icance in Cervix Carcinoma

Objective 　To observe the methylation status of RASSF1A tumor suppressor gene promoter in human cervical carcinoma and its clinical significance and it s relationship with HPVs infection. Methods 　Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) assay was used to analyze the methylation status of promoter of RASSF1A gene in 39 cervical carcinoma and 12 normal cervical tissues. HPV-16 、18 type in cervical carcinoma was examined by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) technique. Results 　Hypermethylation of RASSF1A was observed in 28. 2 %(11/ 39) of 39 cervical cancer cases. None of the normal cervical tissues was methylated. HPV-16 、18 type DNA was assessed in 69. 2 % of the cervical carcinoma. RASSF1A hypermethylation was also positively related with lymph node metastasis ( P < 0. 05) . However, there was no evidence to demonst rate the relationship between RASSF1A hypermethylation and the patient′s age, sizes of tumors, histological grade, stage and HPV infection ( P > 0. 05) . Conclusion 　Epigenetic change due to 5′-Cp G island methylation is the main cause of inactivation of RASSF1A gene which may be involved in cervical carcinoma pathogenesis and progress.