Background: Aberrant DNA methylation of promoter region CpG islands is an alternative mechanism that leads to genetic defects in the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes during myelomagenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the promoter methylation status of the phosphates and tensin homologue on chromosome 10 (PTEN) gene in a cohort of multiple myeloma patients.
Findings: The PTEN gene was hypermethylated in 7 out of 58 (12%) primary myeloma samples.