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Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA reflect removal of the primary tumor and drug treatment of breast cancer patients.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liggett, TE; Melnikov, AA; Marks, JR; Levenson, VV
Published in: Int J Cancer
January 15, 2011

Abnormal DNA methylation is a feature of most types of cancer, which is reflected in cell-free circulating DNA in plasma. It is, however, unknown whether surgical removal of the tumor and subsequent therapy induces changes in plasma DNA methylation, which can be used to monitor treatment. In this pilot study, methylation in cell-free plasma DNA of 20 breast cancer patients was determined by the previously developed MethDet-56 technique. Samples at three time points were analyzed-before surgery (baseline), after surgery (to evaluate the effects of resection) and after surgery on tamoxifen therapy (to determine the effects of treatment). Methylation patterns of healthy controls were used as a reference for all comparisons. Seven promoters were differentially methylated (p < 0.05) in at least one comparison; three changed after surgery; another one changed after beginning of tamoxifen treatment; and four were differentially methylated in baseline versus combined treatment samples. Increased methylation of PR PROX, MDGI, PAX 5 and RARβ2 at baseline (presurgery) diminished toward the healthy controls with the lowest methylation in the combined treatment group. Surgery alone decreased methylation in PAX 5 and RARβ2, whereas tamoxifen treatment changed methylation only in the B promoter of ESR1. Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA change after surgery and tamoxifen treatment, most significantly-after combined treatment. The baseline (presurgery) patterns become similar to those of healthy controls, suggesting that methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA may be used to monitor treatment.

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Published In

Int J Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1097-0215

Publication Date

January 15, 2011

Volume

128

Issue

2

Start / End Page

492 / 499

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tamoxifen
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Pituitary Neoplasms
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • DNA Methylation
  • Breast Neoplasms
 

Citation

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Liggett, T. E., Melnikov, A. A., Marks, J. R., & Levenson, V. V. (2011). Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA reflect removal of the primary tumor and drug treatment of breast cancer patients. Int J Cancer, 128(2), 492–499. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.25363
Liggett, Thomas E., Anatoliy A. Melnikov, Jeffrey R. Marks, and Victor V. Levenson. “Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA reflect removal of the primary tumor and drug treatment of breast cancer patients.Int J Cancer 128, no. 2 (January 15, 2011): 492–99. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.25363.
Liggett TE, Melnikov AA, Marks JR, Levenson VV. Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA reflect removal of the primary tumor and drug treatment of breast cancer patients. Int J Cancer. 2011 Jan 15;128(2):492–9.
Liggett, Thomas E., et al. “Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA reflect removal of the primary tumor and drug treatment of breast cancer patients.Int J Cancer, vol. 128, no. 2, Jan. 2011, pp. 492–99. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/ijc.25363.
Liggett TE, Melnikov AA, Marks JR, Levenson VV. Methylation patterns in cell-free plasma DNA reflect removal of the primary tumor and drug treatment of breast cancer patients. Int J Cancer. 2011 Jan 15;128(2):492–499.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1097-0215

Publication Date

January 15, 2011

Volume

128

Issue

2

Start / End Page

492 / 499

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tamoxifen
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Pituitary Neoplasms
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • DNA Methylation
  • Breast Neoplasms