Abstract
Loss of expression for both the estrogen receptor-α and E-cadherin genes has been linked to disease progression in human ductal breast carcinomas and has been associated with aberrant 5′ CpG island methylation. To assess when, during malignant progression, such methylation begins and whether such methylation increases with advancing disease, we have surveyed 111 ductal carcinomas of the breast for aberrant methylation of the estrogen receptor- α and E-cadherin 5′ CpG islands. Hypermethylation of either CpG island was evident prior to invasion in ∼30% of ductal carcinoma in situ lesions and increased significantly to nearly 60% in metastatic lesions. Coincident methylation of both CpG islands also increased significantly from ∼20% in ductal carcinoma in situ to nearly 50% in metastatic lesions. Furthermore, in all cases, the pattern of methylation displayed substantial heterogeneity, reflecting the well-established, heterogeneous loss of expression for these genes in ductal carcinomas of the breast.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 4346-4348 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Cancer Research |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 16 |
State | Published - Aug 15 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research