Mapping of ER gene CpG island methylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction

Rena G. Lapidus, Sharyl J. Nass, Kimberly A. Butash, Fritz F. Parl, Sigmund A. Weitzman, Jeremy G. Graff, James G. Herman, Nancy E. Davidson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

193 Scopus citations

Abstract

Southern analysis has shown that DNA from 25% of primary estrogen receptor (ER) α -negative breast tumors displays aberrant methylation at one site within the ER gene CpG island. To examine more sites and increase sensitivity, we developed a methylation-specific PCR assay to map methylation of the entire ER CpG island. The island was unmethylated in normal breast tissue and ER-positive breast cancer cell lines, but extensively methylated in all ER-negative cell lines and breast tumors examined. In addition, some of the ER-positive/progesterone receptor-negative and ER- positive/progesterone receptor-positive tumors (about 70% and 35%, respectively) displayed methylation of the ER CpG island, suggesting that this heterogeneity within tumor cell populations could potentially shed light on the etiology of ER-negative recurrent tumors arising from ER-positive tumors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2515-2519
Number of pages5
JournalCancer Research
Volume58
Issue number12
StatePublished - Jun 15 1998
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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