Frequent methylation of DAB2, a Wnt pathway antagonist, in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas

Pathol Res Pract. 2018 Feb;214(2):314-317. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2017.12.010. Epub 2017 Dec 14.

Abstract

Background: Aberrations in Wnt signaling pathway are related to the pathogenesis of head and neck carcinomas and their activation frequently results from epigenetic alterations. This study aimed to assess the frequency of the methylation of DAB2, which acts as a negative regulator of Wnt signaling, and correlate it with clinicopathological features in a group of oral cancer patients.

Material and methods: Forty nine patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. DNA samples were isolated from surgical sections using phenol-chloroform extraction. Methylation-specific PCR was used to detect gene promoter methylation.

Results: The analysis of the occurrence of DAB2 promoter methylation in primary oral carcinomas indicated that the gene is methylated in 70% of cases. However, no correlation was found between its methylation and TNM staging or overall survival.

Conclusions: Our findings corroborate that DAB2 is a frequent target of epigenetic silencing in oral carcinomas and may be potentially used for tumor detection.

Keywords: DAB2; DNA methylation; Head and neck cancer; Oral cancer; Wnt pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation / physiology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • DAB2 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins