Aberrant DNA methylation of the p16INK4a gene in plasma DNA of breast cancer patients
1999
DNA Changes in Breast Cancer Patients
Sample size: 35
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Silva J M, Dominguez G, Villanueva M J, Gonzalez R, Garcia J M, Corbacho C, Provencio M, España P, Bonilla F
Primary Institution: Clinica Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain
Hypothesis
Can de novo methylation of the p16INK4a gene be detected in plasma DNA of breast cancer patients?
Conclusion
De novo methylation of the p16INK4a gene can be found in the plasma DNA of breast cancer patients, indicating that this DNA comes from tumors.
Supporting Evidence
- De novo methylation was observed in the tumors of eight patients (23%).
- Methylation was found in plasma DNA in five (14%) of these eight patients.
- The study provides evidence of the tumor-related origin of free plasma DNA in cancer patients.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at DNA from breast cancer patients and found changes that show the DNA in their blood comes from their tumors.
Methodology
Examined hypermethylation of exon 1 of p16INK4a in tumor and plasma DNA from breast cancer patients.
Participant Demographics
Breast cancer patients.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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