STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF P16、FHIT METHYLATION AND LOSS OF PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN THE ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOGENESIS

[Objective]To study the relationship of p16 and FHIT methylation with the protein expression in the esophageal carcinogenesis.[Methods]Methylated-specific PCR(MSP)was performed to detect the p16 and FHIT methyltion status in 44 cases of esophageal precancerous lesions,14 carcinoma in situ(CIS),37 infiltrated carcinoma and 10 chronic esophatitis(CE). Loss of protein expression of p16 and FHIT was detected immunohistochemically and the relationship of methylation and loss of protein expression was evaluated with correlation analysis.[Results]Among 105 cases,the methylation frequencies and loss of protein expression of both genes were showed to be increasing tendency with the aggravation of the disease. The methylation frequencies and loss of protein expression of p16 and FHIT in the severe dysplasia,CIS and infiltrated carcinoma groups were apparently higher than that in the CE. The methylation status of p16 and FHIT showed significantly association with the expression of proteinum.[Conclusion]Loss of protein expression of p16 and FHIT is an early event in the esophageal carcinogenesis. Inactivation of p16 and FHIT might play an important role in the progression of esophageal cancer by promoting the inactivation of methylation.