Lung cancer risk stratification using methylation profile in the oral epithelium.

Background: Assuming that the entire airway is affected by the same inhaled carcinogen, similar molecular alterations may occur in the lung and oral cavity. Thus, we hypothesized that DNA methylation profiles in the oral epithelium may be a promising biomarker for lung cancer risk stratification.

Methods: A methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed on oral epithelium from 16 patients with lung cancer and 32 controls without lung cancer.