Promoter Hypermethylation of FANCF and Susceptibility and Prognosis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Objective: To assess the 5' CpG island methylation of Fanconi anemia, complementation group F (FANCF) gene in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues and normal ovarian tissues and to investigate the relationship between FANCF methylation and clinicopathologic features and prognosis of EOC.

Methods: The experiment was performed with 112 EOC tissue samples (case group) and 60 normal ovarian tissues (control group). With methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), FANCF methylation status of cases and controls was assessed. And the association between FANCF methylation and the clinicopathological features of EOC was investigated with univariate survival analysis and Cox regression model analysis.

Results: The methylation-positive rate of the case group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P = 0.015). The FANCF promoter methylation rates showed significant differences in the comparisons stratified by age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, histopathological classification, and lymph node metastasis (all P < .05). Univariate survival analysis showed there were significant differences in mean survival time between the groups based on FIGO staging, histopathological classification, lymph node metastasis, and FANCF methylation (all P < .05). Cox regression model analysis suggested that FIGO staging and FANCF methylation were independent risk factors for EOC prognosis.

Conclusion: CpG island methylation of FANCF gene promoter region is strongly associated with the susceptibility and clinicopathologic features of EOC. The FIGO staging and FANCF methylation are independent risk factors for EOC prognosis.