PCDH17 gene promoter methylation status in a cohort of Egyptian women with epithelial ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of female mortality. Epigenetic changes occur in early stages of carcinogenesis and represent a marker for cancer diagnosis. Protocadherin 17 (PCDH17) is a tumor suppressor gene involved in cell adhesion and apoptosis. The methylation of PCDH17 gene promoter has been described in several cancers including ovarian cancer. The aim of the study was to compare the methylation status of PCDH17 gene promoter between females diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and a control group composed of normal and benign ovarian lesions. METHODS: Fifty female subjects were included in our study (25 ovarian cancer patients and 25 controls). DNA was extracted from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues of the subjects. Methylation levels for six CpG sites in the PCDH17 gene promoter were assessed by pyrosequencing. RESULTS: The methylation levels at five out of six sites were significantly higher in females with epithelial ovarian cancer compared to the control group. Moreover, the same applies for the mean methylation level with p value 0.018. CONCLUSION: Methylation of PCDH17 gene promoter plays a role in ovarian carcinogenesis and can be used for diagnosis and early detection.