Promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A and p16 gene in plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

ObjectiveTo explore the value of promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A gene(Ras association domain family 1 gene)and p16 gene in the plasma of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.MethodsThe promoter hypermethylation status of RASSF1A and p16 gene in plasma of 100 HCC patients,30 hepatitis B patients,30 hepatocirrhosis patients and 30 health persons was detected with methylatlon specific PCR(MSP).ResultsAberrant RASSF1A and p16 methylation was found in 38.0% (38/100)and 65.0% (65/100)of plasma DNA among HCC patients;no methylated RASSF1A or p16 was detected in plasma samples of hepatitis B patients,hepatocirrhosis patients,or health persons (P=0.000).Charaters of the patients including age,gender,level of alpha fetoprotein,status of HBsAg,and methylation of p16 or RASSF1A gene showed no corelation with promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A or p16 gene(P>0.05).ConclusionPromoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A and p16 can be detected in plasma DNA among HCC patients.This detection is valuable in the screening of HCC.