Research article summary (published 30 Oct 2008):

Reliability and reproducibility of PCR-based testing of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene (MGMT) promoter methylation status in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded neurosurgical biopsy specimens.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reliability and reproducibility of PCR-based testing of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene (MGMT) promoter methylation status in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) neurosurgical biopsy specimens. MATERIALS: We used 6 FFPE neurosurgical temporal lobe specimens of children and young adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. Histopathologically, all specimens showed CNS tissue with gliosis but no tumor tissue. METHODS: For MGMT promoter methylation analysis, we used methylation specific PCR (MGMT MSP). In all 6 tissue specimens, 4 repetitive runs of MGMT MSP were performed. RESULTS: We obtained conclusive results only in 13/24 (54.2%) MGMT MSP analyses. In 5/13 (38.5%) successful MSP runs, the results indicated presence of a methylated MGMT promoter. In only 1/6 specimens, MSP yielded consistent results in all 4 repetitive runs. CONCLUSIONS: In our hands, MGMT MSP shows poor reliability and reproducibility of test results on FFPE neurosurgical tissue specimens. A more reliable method for diagnostic MGMT promoter methylation testing needs to be identified and validated by systematic testing of intra- and interlaboratory reliability and reproducibility. Alternatively, methods of tissue fixation that do not impair DNA quality but at the same time warrant high quality histopathology could facilitate molecular diagnostics.

Author information

Author/s: Preusser, M (M); Elezi, L (L); Hainfellner, J A (JA);

Affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University, Austria.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Clinical neuropathology (Clin Neuropathol), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2008 Nov-Dec; vol 27 (issue 6) : pp 388-90

Dates: Created 2009/01/09; Completed 2009/02/10;

PMID: 19130735, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Child DNA Methylation - physiology DNA Modification Methylases - genetics; metabolism DNA Repair Enzymes - genetics; metabolism Epilepsy - metabolism; pathology Fixatives Formaldehyde Humans

Humans Paraffin Embedding Polymerase Chain Reaction Promoter Regions, Genetic Reproducibility of Results Temporal Lobe - metabolism; pathology Tumor Suppressor Proteins - genetics; metabolism Young Adult

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Fixatives (0) ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins (0) ; Formaldehyde (50-00-0) ; DNA Modification Methylases (EC 2.1.1.-) ; MGMT protein, human (EC 2.1.1.63) ; DNA Repair Enzymes (EC 6.5.1.-)

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• Lung cancer risk and variation in MGMT activity and sequence. 11 Jun 2007
• Genetic association and functional studies of major polymorphic variants of MGMT. 11 Jun 2007
• Colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis is suppressed in transgenic mice rich in endogenous n-3 fatty acids. 16 Jul 2007
• Methylation of the MGMT and p16 genes in sporadic colorectal carcinoma and corresponding normal colonic mucosa. 29 Sep 2008
• Correlation between promoter hypermethylation of GSTP1 and response to chemotherapy in diffuse large B cell lymphoma. 15 May 2007
• Modes of actions of two types of anti-neoplastic drugs, dacarbazine and ACNU, to induce apoptosis. 17 Sep 2007
• Relevance of MSP assay for the detection of MGMT promoter hypermethylation in glioblastomas. 30 Aug 2008
• Epigenetic-genetic interactions in the APC/WNT, RAS/RAF, and P53 pathways in colorectal carcinoma. 29 Apr 2008
• Co-expression of MGMT(P140K) and alpha-L-iduronidase in primary hepatocytes from mucopolysaccharidosis type I mice enables efficient selection with metabolic correction. 28 Feb 2008
• Heterogeneity of human glioblastoma: glutathione-S-transferase and methylguanine-methyltransferase. 29 Jun 2008

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.