PubMed · 12866401
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Eric Smith, Tina Bianco-Miotto, Paul Drew, David Watson. 2003. Method for optimizing methylation-specific PCR.. https://doi.org/10.2144/03351bm01
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
BACKGROUND: The circulating DNA in plasma/serum of cancer patients has been shown to reflect the characteristics of the tumor DNA including molecular changes, such as methylation, point mutations and microsatellite instability. Fragmented nucleosomal DNA in plasma resulting from apoptotic death of the tumor cells may also provide an indication for tumor DNA. In this study, we comparatively analysed plasma DNA methylation and presence of fragmented nucleosomal DNA in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases. METHODS: Methylation in the first exon of the tumor supressor gene p16 was investigated by the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme-related PCR. DNA fragmentation in plasma was analysed by gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: p16 gene methylation was found to occur in 73% of patients but in none of the 20 healthy controls. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was detectable in 81% of patients. In 67% of patients, copresence of both parameters was observed. Presence of both parameters was associated with the stage of disease which was more pronounced for nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that presence of methylated and apoptotic DNA in plasma of patients with lymphoproliferative diseases is a frequent event and may be used as a marker for early diagnosis and during the follow-up of the disease.
Exocrine pancreas cancer has a dismal prognosis. The precise reasons accounting for its biological and clinical behavior are not known. A "catastrophe" takes place in the course of pancreas cancer development/progression so that, once it occurs, the evolution of the tumor is very rapid, leading to local invasion and metastasis. Up to now, such behavior cannot be conclusively ascribed to a single molecular event. If correct, this hypothesis has important implications regarding pancreas cancer research. Further work is warranted to examine this hypothesis and to identify the putative "catastrophic" elements participating in this tumor.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.