Aberrant methylation of promoter region of SPINT2/HAI-2 gene: an epigenetic mechanism in hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background: Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, are recognized as one of the potential mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aims: We aimed to study the methylation status of the promoter region of Serine peptidase inhibitor/hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 2 (SPINT2/HAI-2) tumor suppressor gene in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected cirrhotic patients with and without HCC.

Methods: Methyl-specific polymerase (MSP) chain reaction was used to detect CpG methylation of the SPINT2/HAI-2 gene promoter in peripheral blood samples of 30 HCC and 50 HCV cirrhotic cases, along with 50 normal individuals.