The Methylation Status of MGMT and SFRP2 Genes in Iranian Patients With Polyps

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and the forth cause of death by cancer globally. Colorectal cancer starts with a polyp and might develop due to multiple epigenetic and genetic changes that lead to change of normal colon epithelium to adenocarcinoma of colon. Recent studies show that epigenetic changes such as methylation of SFRP2 (secreted frizzled-related2) a gene in negative regulation Wnt signaling pathways and MGMT (methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) a DNA repair gene is associated with colorectal cancer. Objectives: Due to correlation of polyp and cancer, the current study aimed to evaluate the role of SFRP2 and MGMT methylation in patients with polyp in south of Iran. Materials and Methods: Forty eight tissue samples of polyp and adenoma, and 20 control samples were investigated for methylation status of SFRP2 and MGMT with mutagenically separated Polymerase Chain Reaction (MS-PCR) method. Results: Methylation in at least one gene was reported about 93.8%. The methylation of SFRP2 was reported in 39 out of the 48 subjects (81.2%) whereas methylation of MGMT was observed in 32 subjects (66.6%). Conclusions: The current study results showed that methylation of SFRP2 and MGMT play an important role in polyp formation.