Detection of promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene in gastric cancer by MSP

Objective:To detect promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene in gastric cancer and to analyze their relationship with the clinical and pathological features.Methods:Methylation - specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to detect promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene in gastric cancer tissues and their adjacent tissues from 60 patients,and in 30 normal specimens.Results:The positivity rate of promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene was significantly higher in gastric cancer than that in the corresponding non - neoplastic tissues and normal controls (65.0%vs 6.7%and 0%,P0.01).No correlation was found between promoter methylation status of RASSF1A gene and age,gender,tumor differentiation,and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.Conclusion: Hypermethylation of RASSF1A gene is present in the gastric cancer tissues,suggesting the hypermethylation of RASSF1A might be associated with the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer.It may provide help in the early detection of gastric cancer.