Promoter hypermethylation of high-in-normal 1 gene in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: The methylation of high-in-normal-1 (HIN-1) gene promoter in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is studied.

Experimental Design: The methylation status of HIN-1 in NPC cell lines, primary NPC, paired nasopharyngeal swabs, paired throat-rinsing fluid, and paired peripheral blood was assessed by methylation-specific PCR assay. The relationship between HIN-1 promoter methylation and transcription in NPC cell lines was evaluated by reverse transcription-PCR and demethylation agent treatment (5-aza-2-deoxycytidine).

Differential gene methylation in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Differential gene methylation is observed in a variety of human malignancies. The study of the pattern of methylated genes helps to understand carcinogenesis and to identify potential marker tumor genes for clinical use. The differential methylated genes in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) of Chinese were studied by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP).

High frequency of promoter hypermethylation of the death-associated protein-kinase gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its detection in the peripheral blood of patients.

Purpose: Death-associated protein (DAP)-kinase gene is frequently inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the promoter methylation status of the DAP-kinase gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Experimental Design: The methylation status was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR (MSP).