Methylation of glutathione S-transferases P1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To study the relationship between methylation of CpG islands of glutathione S-transferases(GST) P1 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Using methylation-special PCR,we studied the methylated status of CpG islands for GSTP1 gene in tumor tissues and its corresponding nontumor tissues of 53 HCC patients.Results The frequency of methylation of CpG islands for GSTP1 gene was significantly higher among the HCC tumor tissues when compared to the corresponding nontumor tissues (χ2=19.08,P0.001),and significantly higher in stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ cases when compared to the stage Ⅰ～Ⅱ cases (χ2=4.84,P=0.028). All the differences of the frequency of methylation of CpG islands for GSTP1 gene between large tumors (diameter5cm)and small tumors (diameter≤5cm),between tumors with single nodule and multiple nodules,and between well-encapsulated tumors and poor-encapsulated tumors were not statistical significant. Conclusion Methylation of CpG islands for GSTP1 gene maybe involved in the pathogenesis of HCC.