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01-04-2012 | Research Article

Promoter methylation status and expression of estrogen receptor alpha in familial breast cancer patients

Authors: Jing Wei, Bing Han, Xiao-yun Mao, Min-jie Wei, Fan Yao, Feng Jin

Published in: Tumor Biology | Issue 2/2012

Abstract

The hypermethylation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) promoter is a common molecular alteration in sporadic breast cancer (BC), but its involvement in familial BC remains largely unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the methylation statuses of four regions (ER1, ER3, ER4, and ER5) of the ERα promoter and the ERα expression levels of 113 familial BC patients in a Han Chinese Population from northeastern China and evaluated the association between major clinicopathological features and the hypermethylation statuses of the ERα gene. Tumor samples were analyzed for ERα methylation status by the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction for ERα, PR, p53, BRCA-1, and BRCA-2 by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and for Her-2 status by IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). ERα methylation was observed in tumor tissues in 47/113 (41.6%) familial BC patients. There were no significant differences in the methylation statuses among ER1 (20.4%), ER3 (18.6%), ER4 (17.7%), and ER5 (19.5%; χ ² = 3.89, p > 0.05). An association between ERα expression level and its promoter methylation level was found. In addition, ERα methylation was significantly correlated with tumor size, PR expression, p53 nuclear accumulation, and BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 statuses. In conclusion, in familial BC patients, the level of ERα gene promoter methylation correlates with ERα expression, PR, p53 nuclear accumulation, and BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 statuses. Epigenetic alteration of ERα gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of familial BC.

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Title: Promoter methylation status and expression of estrogen receptor alpha in familial breast cancer patients
Authors: Jing Wei
Bing Han
Xiao-yun Mao
Min-jie Wei
Fan Yao
Feng Jin
Publication date: 01-04-2012
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Tumor Biology / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 1010-4283
Electronic ISSN: 1423-0380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-011-0234-x

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