Aberrant p16INK4A methylation: Relation to viral related chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently the fifth most common solid tumor worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer related deaths. Several studies have shown that the tumor suppressor gene p16INK4A is frequently downregulated by aberrant methylation of the 5'-cytosine-phosphoguanine island within the promoter region.

Aim: To find out the frequency of methylated p16INK4A in the peripheral blood of HCC and cirrhotic patients and to evaluate its role in hepatocarcinogenesis.