Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University
Untersuchungen über Veränderungen des Epigenoms bei der chronischen lymphatischen Leukämie
Abstract
dc:descriptionChronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in Western countries. Apart from chromosomal alterations comprising deletions and numeric aberrations there is increasing evidence that epigenetic processes contribute to the malignant phenotype of CLL. There is no known pathogenic mechanism inducing CLL, in fact concomitant alterations in various signaling pathways seem to lead to dysregulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. A large number of genes affecting cancer-related pathways may be dysregulated by epigenetic silencing in virtually all tumor types. Using a candidate-gene approach we analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction the CpG island methylation status of 17 well-characterized cancer-related genes in 32 patients with CLL. Aberrant methylation among the samples of patients with CLL was shown for SFRP1 (68.8%), SFRP2 (65.6%), DAPK1 (50.0%), E cadherin (21.9%), SFRP4 (15.6%), SOCS3 (15.6%), p15 (9.4%), p16 (6.3%), RARbeta2 (3.1%), SFRP5 (3.1%) und TIMP3 (3.1%). For DAPK2, hMLH1, MGMT, p73, SOCS1 and TIMP2 no hypermethylation was detected. Hypermethylation of at least one gene was observed in 90.6% of the samples. Up to 7 of 17 gene promoter regions examined were concurrently methylated. Hypermethylation occurred in all Rai stages without a preference for advanced stages. Our results show that aberrant CpG island methylation affecting cancer-related pathways such as Wnt signaling, regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle control and tissue invasion is a common phenomenon in CLL. Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes as well as other critical genes is an alternative mechanism of gene inactivation by mutations or deletions in malignant cells. In addition to genetic alterations, epigenetic disturbances may be involved in the pathogenesis of CLL and thus may provide a molecular rationale for therapeutic approaches.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher
- Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University
- Year dc:date
- 2009
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Seeliger, Barbara
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Galm, Oliver
Subjects
dc:subject × 14Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
- Language dc:language
- ger