Evaluation of <i>ZAR1</i> and <i>SFRP4</i> methylation status as potentials biomarkers for diagnosis in cervical cancer: exploratory study phase I

Abstract

CONTEXT: Aberrant hypermethylation of promoter region of tumor suppressor genes could be used as cancer biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: To test methylation status of ZAR1 and SFRP4 promoter regions as potentials biomarkers for diagnosis of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of cervix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytobrush samples were evaluated by Methylation specific PCR (MSP) and quantitative MSP (qMSP). RESULTS: ZAR1 and SFRP4 methylation frequency increased as the grade of lesion increased and the differences between normal and cervical cancer (CC) are statistically significant (p < 0.0001). qMSP showed higher ZAR1 and SFRP4 methylation levels in cancer than normal epithelia (p < 0.001) and preneoplastics lesions (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: qMSP quantify methylation levels and have high sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: ZAR1 and SFRP4 qMSP could be used as potential biomarker for CC diagnosis.