Youhei Kitamura

Methylation of the WNT5A gene is frequently detected in early gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recently, it has been reported that WNT5A methylation was frequently detected in colorectal cancers. However, the relationship between the WNT5A methylation and the characteristics of gastric cancer remains unknown. METHODOLOGY Methylation status of the WNT5A gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 38 patients with gastric cancer using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and the correlation between the methylation status and the clinicopathological findings was evaluated. RESULTS Aberrant methylation of the WNT5A gene was detected in 7 out of the 38 (18%) primary gastric carcinomas, suggesting that the methylation of WNT5A is observed in gastric carcinomas as well as colorectal ones. The clinicopathological data were correlated with the methylation results. A significant difference was observed in the extent of tumor (p=0.0226). Moreover, a trend was shown towards early TNM stages in methylated tumors (p=0.209). CONCLUSIONS WNT5A was more frequently methylated in early gastric carcinomas.