The relationship between methylation of tumor suppressor genes <i>APC</i>, <i>GSTP1</i>, <i>RASSF1A</i> and content of prostate-specific antigen- associated markers in prostate cancer diagnosis

Abstract

Despite the improvement of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostic methods and the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) monitoring, the incidence of advanced PCa in Russia remains high. New more informative variables are needed for the effective diagnosis of early stage and high-grade PCa. In the field of epigenetics of special interest is the detection of DNA hypermethylation, which can serve as a PCa biomarker, since it is common to find and may induce a stable appropriate gene silencing, leading to significant cell changes. Aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between methylation of the APC, GSTP1 and RASSF1A genes and total PSA and prostate health index (PHI) in PCa. Material and methods. The present study included 54 patients with suspicion of PCa, up to 75-years old, who had an initial total PSA level from 2.5 to 10 ng/ml. To calculate PHI value the concentrations of total PSA, free PSA and pre-mature form of PSA ([–2]proPSA) in blood serum were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results and discussion. The study has revealed the statistically significant correlation between the degree of methylation in blood plasma samples and biopsy material of only the GSTP1 gene and PSA-associated markers. We found an increase of parameters contingency as Gleason score increased. Conclusions. As a result of this work, statistically significant direct correlations were identified between changes in methylation patterns of the promoter region of the GSTP1 gene and PHI, which allows us to consider them as potential candidates for inclusion in a diagnostic panel for more effective early detection of prostate cancer.