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. 2003 May;11(5):655-60.

Epigenetic changes in pilocytic astrocytomas and medulloblastomas

Pilar Gonzalez-Gomez  1 , M Josefa Bello, Jesus Lomas, Dolores Arjona, M Eva Alonso, Cinthia Amiñoso, Jose M De Campos, Jesus Vaquero, Jose L Sarasa, Cacilda Casartelli, Juan A Rey
Affiliations
  • PMID: 12684707

Epigenetic changes in pilocytic astrocytomas and medulloblastomas

Pilar Gonzalez-Gomez et al. Int J Mol Med. 2003 May.

Abstract

Aberrant methylation of CpG islands located in promoter regions represents one of the major mechanisms for silencing of cancer-related genes in tumour cells. We determined the frequency of aberrant CpG island methylation of several tumour-associated genes: MGMT, GSTP1, DAPK, p14ARF, THBS1, TIMP-3, p73, p16INK4A, RB1 and TP53 in 24 neurogenic tumours consisting of pilocytic astrocytomas (n=13) and medulloblastomas (n=11). The methylation index (number methylated genes/total genes analysed) displayed slight differences (0.18 and 0.25, respectively), and the profile of methylated genes in the two neoplasms was distinct, as predicted. The main differences involved the methylation rate of GSTP1 (0% in pilocytic astrocytomas vs. 18% medulloblastomas) and p14ARF (0% in pilocytic astrocytomas vs. 45% in medulloblastomas) genes. Pilocytic astrocytomas also demonstrated some differences when compared to methylation data from other astrocytic tumours, primarily regarding the MGMT methylation rate. Despite the fact that these differences do not show specific tumour-associated gene methylation patterns, our findings should help us understand the pathogenic mechanisms of both neurogenic neoplasm types.

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