Journal List > Korean J Urol > v.50(5) > 1005325

Kwon, Park, Kim, Ha, Kim, Yun, Lee, and Kim: The Relationship between RUNX3 Inactivation and Its Pathological Features in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose

DNA methylation is a key regulator of gene transcription and genomic stability, and alterations in DNA methylation are frequently detected in human tumors. Recent study has suggested that inactivation of runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3), primarily epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, is closely associated with bladder tumor stage, grade, and prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between RUNX3 inactivation and renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Materials and Methods

RCC tissues (n=56) were obtained from patients who underwent radical nephrectomy. The methylation pattern of RUNX3 was determined by using methylation specific-polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) and direct DNA sequencing.

Results

Methylation of the RUNX3 promoter was observed in 75.0% of the samples (42/56). The tumor stage and grade were significantly associated with the methylation status (p<0.05, respectively). However, recurrence and progression of RCC were not significantly related to the methylation of the RUNX3 promoter region (log-rank test, p>0.05, respectively).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that promoter methylation of RUNX3 is frequently observed in RCC. In addition, RUNX3 methylation is closely associated with aggressive pathologic features.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Nucleotide sequence of runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) promoter region. Nucleotide sequence from -880 to +1 region is shown. CpG dinucleotides are marked in bold.
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Fig. 2
Methylation of the runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) promoter region in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. DNA from 5 RCC cell lines was analyzed by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct DNA sequencing. Methylated CpG cytosines remained as cytosines, whereas unmethylated cytosines changed to thymidines in the PCR products.
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Table 1
Patients and pathologic classification
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Table 2
Correlation of RUNX3 methylation statuswith age, sex, histology, recurrence and progression
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RUNX3: runt-related transcription factor 3, a: Fisher's exact test, b: chi-square test

Table 3
Correlation of RUNX3 methylation status with stage and grade
kju-50-432-i003

RUNX3: runt-related transcription factor 3, a: chi-square, linear by linear association

Notes

This work was supported by the research grant of the Chungbuk National University in 2008.

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