MGMT gene promoter methylation in malignant melanoma patients

Objective This study was designed to investigate the association of MGMT promoter methylation and MGMT protein expression in Chinese malignant melanoma patients.Methods We analyzed the MGMT promoter methylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(MS-PCR) and protein expression by immunohistochemistry(IHC) in 44 malignant melanoma cases.Results We found that MGMT promoter hypermethylation occurred in 18 of 44(40.9%) cases,MGMT protein expression rate of MGMT promoter methylation patients was 27.8%(5/18) and MGMT protein expression rate of MGMT promoter unmethylation patients was 65.4%(17/26).The presence of hypermethylation was associated with loss of MGMT protein(P=0.014).Conclusion In the advanced malignant melanoma MGMT promoter methylation may reduce MGMT protein expression;the examination of MGMT promoter methylation status in melanoma may be useful for stratefying patients with melanoma into suitable chemotherapy such as alkylating agents,and offer theoretical and practical basis to personalized treatments.