engleski

Benefit of methylation profiling in oral mucosa

It is well established that DNA methylation changes with age as well as in carcinomas. Our previous studies on cervix mucosa have shown that aberrant methylation of specific genes could be a good biomarker of different stages of cervical lesions. Those genes are, particularly, some tumor suppressors and genes involved in cell cycle regulation, transcription, apoptosis, differentiation and chromosomes repair. Oral mucosa is similar to cervical mucosa and prone to HPV infection. However, oral lesions are more difficult to distinguish by clinical examination, cytology and histopathology as in case of cervical lesions. Therefore, epigenetic biomarkers, such as methylated genes could point to changes even before they can be otherwise detected. In our ongoing study we are examining the status of certain gene methylation in healthy subjects and in those with specific changes in the oral cavity. The method of methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) is used to study the gene promoter methylation status in clinically determined healthy individuals and those with oral mucosa changes. The study design and the importance of methylation studies will be presented at the International Papillomavus Conference 2015.

DNA methylation ; oral mucosa ; biomarker

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