OBJECTIVETo analyze the methylation status of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT genes in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and to explore the prognostic significance of gene methylation.

METHODSMethylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect the methylation of the above-mentioned 4 genes in 67 patients with MDS and 18 patients with iron-deficient anemia as controls. The gene methylation status of MDS patients and its effect on prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSThe methylation rates of p15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT in 67 MDS patients were 37.3%, 35.8%, 47.8% and 52.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The methylation status of p15, SOCS1 was increased along with the increase of International Prognostic Scoring System(IPSS) scores (P<0.05), and ≥2 genes was more frequent in relatively high risk groups (P<0.05). The median overall survival time of patients with and without methylation were 15 and 21 months, respectively (P<0.05). Patients showing methylation of SOCS1 had a significantly shorter survival time in relatively low risk groups(P<0.05), meanwhile SOCS1, p15 and methylations of ≥2 genes had significantly shorter survival time in relatively high risk groups(P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, SOCS1 and p15 were negative prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONp15, DAPK, SOCS1 and FHIT are higher hypermethylated genes in MDS. The methylations of SOCS1 and p15 are independent prognostic factor for overall survival in MDS.