p16 gene methylation in colorectal cancers associated with Duke's staging

AIM To explore the association of methylation of the CpG island in the prom otor of the p16 tumor suppressor gene with the clinicopathological characte ristics of the colorectal cancers. METHODS Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect p16 methylation o f 62 sporadic colorectal cancer specimens. RESULTS p16 methylation was detected in 42% of the tumors. Dukes' staging w as associated with p16 methylation status. p16 methylation occurred more fr equently in Dukes' C and D patients (75.9%) than in Dukes' A and B patients (12.1%). CONCLUSION p16 methylation plays a role in the carcinogenesis of a subset o f colorectal cancer, and it might be linked to poor prognosis.