Site-specific CpG methylation in the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (CEBP delta) CpG island in breast cancer is associated with metastatic relapse
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background:
The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (CEBPδ) is a member of a highly conserved family of basic region leucine zipper transcription factors. It has properties consistent with a tumour suppressor; however, other data suggest that CEBPδ may be involved in the metastatic process.
Methods:
We analysed the expression of CEBPδ and the methylation status of the CpG island in human breast cancer cell lines, in 107 archival cases of primary breast cancer and in two series of metastatic breast cancers using qPCR and pyrosequencing.
Results:
Expression of CEBPδ is downregulated in primary breast cancer by site-specific methylation in the CEBPδ CpG island. Expression is also downregulated in 50% of cases during progression from primary carcinoma to metastatic lesions. The CEBPδ CpG island is methylated in 81% metastatic breast cancer lesions, while methylation in the CEBPδ CpG island in primary cancers is associated with increased risk of relapse and metastasis.
Conclusion:
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta CpG island methylation is associated with metastasis in breast cancer. Detection of methylated CEBPδ genomic DNA may have utility as an epigenetic biomarker of primary breast carcinomas at increased risk of relapse and metastasis.
The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (CEBPδ) is a member of a highly conserved family of basic region leucine zipper transcription factors. It has properties consistent with a tumour suppressor; however, other data suggest that CEBPδ may be involved in the metastatic process.
Methods:
We analysed the expression of CEBPδ and the methylation status of the CpG island in human breast cancer cell lines, in 107 archival cases of primary breast cancer and in two series of metastatic breast cancers using qPCR and pyrosequencing.
Results:
Expression of CEBPδ is downregulated in primary breast cancer by site-specific methylation in the CEBPδ CpG island. Expression is also downregulated in 50% of cases during progression from primary carcinoma to metastatic lesions. The CEBPδ CpG island is methylated in 81% metastatic breast cancer lesions, while methylation in the CEBPδ CpG island in primary cancers is associated with increased risk of relapse and metastasis.
Conclusion:
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta CpG island methylation is associated with metastasis in breast cancer. Detection of methylated CEBPδ genomic DNA may have utility as an epigenetic biomarker of primary breast carcinomas at increased risk of relapse and metastasis.
Date Issued
2012-08-07
Date Acceptance
2012-06-13
Citation
British Journal of Cancer, 2012, 107 (4), pp.732-738
ISSN
0007-0920
Publisher
Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
Start Page
732
End Page
738
Journal / Book Title
British Journal of Cancer
Volume
107
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2012 Cancer Research UK. This work is published under the standard license to publish agreement. After 12 months the work will become freely available and the
license terms will switch to a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
license terms will switch to a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000307770300022&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Oncology
breast cancer
CEBPD
methylation
metastasis
C/EBP-DELTA
GENE-EXPRESSION
TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR
CELL-LINE
DIFFERENTIATION
TARGETS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2012-07-10