Methylation Of CHFR, EDNRB And 3-OST-2 Genes In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate methylation of CHFR, EDNRB and 3-OST-2 Genes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Methylation-specific PCR was adopted to investigate methylation of CHFR, EDNRB and 3-OST-2 Genes in 40 cases of HCC tumor and corresponding non-tumor liver tissues, 4 HCC cell lines, 14 normal liver tissues in liver angioma and 2 liver donors. The relationship between methylation of CHFR, EDNRB and 3-OST-2 Genes and clinical data was analyzed. Results: 2 liver donors have no methylation of these genes. No normal liver tissue in liver angioma was detected methylation in CHFR, EDNRB and 3-OST-2 Genes. Methylation of CHFR, EDNRB and 3-OST-2 Genes was found in 4, 4 and 0 of 4 HCC cell lines, respectively. In 40 cases of HCC tumor and corresponding non-tumor liver tissues, the frequency of CHFR methylation was 52.5%, 27.5% respectively; the frequency of EDNRB methylation was 27.5%, 27.5% respectively; the frequency of 3-OST-2 methylation was 12.5%, 0% respectively; Methylation of CHFR and 3-OST-2 was more frequent in HCC than in non-tumor liver tissues(P=0.022; P=0.021). There was no significant difference between methylation of EDNRB and in HCC tumor and non-tumor liver tissues(P=0.148). At least one gene was methylated in 60% of HCC and 42.5% of non-tumor liver tissue. One gene was methylated in 12 of HCC(30%). Two genes were methylated in 5 of HCC(12.5%). No cases had methylation of 3 genes. Frequency of CHFR genes was more than EDNRB and 3-OST-2 in HCC tissues(P<0.05). In CHFR methylation, quantity of male was more than female in HCC. Tumor envelope of the patients of EDNRB unmethylation in non-tumor tissues was more frequent than methylation. HCC patients with methylation of 3-OST-2 were elder than those without, and tumor diameter of HCC patients with methylation of 3-OST-2 were larger than those without. Conclusion: Methylation-specific PCR is a sensitive and specific method for DNA methylation. Methylation of CHFR is a frequent event in HCC and probably participates in the progression of HCC; EDNRB methylation in HCC was correlated with early metastasis and recurrence post-operation. There were no obvious associasion between hypermethylation of 3-OST-2 and tumorigenesis of HCCs.