The Role Of Promoter Hypermethylation Of KiSS-1 Gene In Gastric Cancer And Its Clinical Significance

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between KiSS-1 methylation and clinicopat-hological characteristics of gastric cancer and evaluate the role of peritoneal lavage fluid in detecting peritoneal metastases.MethodThe methylation status of KiSS-1 gene in 40 gastric cancer specimens, the corresponding adjacent normal mucosa, lymph nodes and peritoneal lavage fluid was investigated by methylation-spcific polymerase chain reaction(MS-PCR).ResultAberrant methylation of KiSS-1 gene was detected in 55%(22/40) of the adjacent normal mucosa,82.5%(33/40)of gastric cancer specimens,80.95%(17/21)of the lymph nodes, and 42.5%(17/40)of peritoneal lavage fluid, Methylation in the gastric carcinoma and lymphonode was significantly more frequent than in the non-neoplastic gastiric mucosa. Presence of KiSS-1 methylation in peritoneal lavage fluid was significantly correlated with tumor invasion (P=0.043). The accuracy of KiSS-1 methylation in peritoneal lavage fluid for diagnosing peritoneal metastasis was of 70%, with sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 67.7%.ConclusionAberrant methylation of KiSS-1 promoter is a common event in the development and progress of human gastric cancer, it may provide useful information for the diagnosis and assessment of occult metastasis in lymphonode. KiSS-1 methylation in peritoneal lavage fluid could act as a biomarker to evaluate peritoneal metastasis. However, more research should be carried out to further explore the mechanism of KiSS-1 hypermethylation in gastric cancer, and the promoter hypermethylation of KiSS-1 gene provide a new idea for prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.