Methylation status analysis of Runx3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and clinical significance

Objective To study the clinical significance of Runx3 gene hypermethylation in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) for the promoter methylation status of Runx3 gene in a series of HCC tissues.Methods The methylation status of Runx3 was examined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(MSP) in a series of HCC tissues and corresponding normal liver tissues.Results Promoter methylation of Runx3 gene was found in 1(1.2%) of 81 corresponding normal liver,whereas 35(43.2%) of 81 HCC tissues showed hypermethylation of the gene(P0.01).There was no significant difference between promoter hypermethylation and clinicopathologic parameters of HCC samples.Conclusion High frequent hypermethylation is one of reasons which induces Runx3 gene inactivation in human HCC and it plays an important role in the early genesis of HCC,Runx3 gene can be utilized as a molecular diagnostic marker and therapy target of HCC.