Expression of methylation-related genes is associated with overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
2008

Methylation-related genes and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Sample size: 148 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): J Xing, D J Stewart, J Gu, C Lu, M R Spitz, X Wu

Primary Institution: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Hypothesis

The expression levels of methylation-related genes are associated with overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Conclusion

High levels of DNMT1 expression are linked to an increased risk of death in NSCLC patients, while DNMT3b and MBD2 have varying effects based on age and sex.

Supporting Evidence

  • High DNMT1 expression is associated with a 74% increased risk of death.
  • DNMT3b expression is linked to poor prognosis in patients under 65 years.
  • MBD2 expression shows a protective effect in male and SQLC patients.

Takeaway

This study found that certain genes related to DNA methylation can help predict how long patients with lung cancer might live.

Methodology

The study measured mRNA expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3b, and MBD2 in tumor samples using quantitative real-time PCR.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the retrospective nature of the study and the specific patient population.

Limitations

The sample size in each stratum was small, and empirical cutoff points were chosen for gene expression.

Participant Demographics

The mean age of participants was 65 years, with 94% being white and 92% ever smokers.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 1.04–2.90

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604343

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication