[Clinical significance of CASP8AP2 gene methylation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: To study the methylation level in the promoter of caspase 8 associated protein 2 (CASP8AP2) gene between samples at diagnosis and in complete remission, and to investigate its relationship with clinical features and prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Diagnostic DNA samples from 109 newly diagnosed children with ALL admitted from August 2007 to March 2010, and 94 ALL children in CR (complete remission) among them were collected. Bisulfite modification and MethyLight method established by our research team were used to determine the methylation level of the two key CpG sites (at -1189 and -1176) of the promoter of CASP8AP2 gene.

Low expressions of ARS2 and CASP8AP2 predict relapse and poor prognosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated on China CCLG-ALL 2008 protocol.

ARS2 protein is important to early development and cell proliferation, in which ARS2-CASP8AP2 interaction is implicated. However, the predictive significance of ARS2 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unknown. Here we evaluate the predictive values of ARS2 expression and combined ARS2 and CASP8AP2 expression in relapse.

Hypermethylation of two CpG sites upstream of CASP8AP2 promoter influences gene expression and treatment outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

DNA hypermethylation of Caspase 8 associated protein 2 (CASP8AP2) and its role in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unclear. We analyzed methylation status of CpG sites upstream of CASP8AP2 gene in 86 children with ALL by bisulfite sequencing and quantitative PCR. Methylation percentage of two CpG sites at positions of -1189 and -1176 was inversely correlated with mRNA expression (Spearman correlation: -0.

[Detection of free tumor-related DNA in the serum of breast cancer patients].

Objective: To study the APC and E-cadherin gene promoter hypermethylation as tumor marker and to investigate the correlation of free tumor-related DNA in serum and tumor tissue with clinicopathological parameters. Their feasibility in early diagnosis, predicting therapeutic effect and monitoring recurrence was evaluated.

Methods: 84 cases with operated breast cancer were recruited from March 2002 to August 2002 at Beijing Cancer Hospital.

[Detection and significance of APC gene promoter hypermethylation in serum of breast cancer patients].

Background & Objective: Detection of circulating tumor markers is one of current hot spots in tumor research. Free tumor DNA may exist in the peripheral blood of malignant tumor patients. Identical DNA mutations existing in both peripheral serum and primary tumor are found in many kinds of malignant tumors.

[Detection of p53 gene mutation in the plasma of gastric cancer patients].

Objective: To investigated p53 gene mutation in plasma of gastric cancer patients.

Methods: DNA extracted from plasma and matched tumor and tumor-adjacent normal tissues of 96 gastric cancer patients, and DNA from 20 healthy people were studied. Exons 5, 6, 7, and 8 of p53 were amplified by PCR.

[Promoter hypermethylation of the p16 gene in pre- and post-gastrectomy plasma of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma].

Objective: To detect promoter hypermethylation of the p16 gene in pre- and post-operative plasma, matched cancer tissues and para-tumor non-cancerous tissues of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma for evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention.

Methods: Primary tumor tissues and para-tumor tissues and preoperative plasma samples of 84 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were collected, and 14-21 days' post-operative plasma of 30 of the 84 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy was available. Plasma of 15 healthy people was also collected as control.