OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) gene protein and the expression of BRMS1 gene promotor area methylation in supraglottic cancer and to evaluate its clinical significance. METHOD: The expression of BRMS1 protein and BRMS1 gene promotor area methylation were examined by using Western blotting method and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(MSP) method in 70 cases of supraglottic cancer tissues and 60 cases of their surrounding laryngeal normal mucosa tissues (LNT) and 44 cases of cervical lymph node metastasis of supraglottic cancer. RESULT: Western blot results indicate that BRMS1 protein expression is declined expression level in supraglottic cancer tissue than the expression of BRMS1 protein in LNT of supraglottic cancer. Compared with para carcinoma normal laryngeal mucous tissue, BRMS1 gene protein in supraglottic cancer tissue primary lesion decreased obviously, and it is decreased more obviously in cervical lymph node metastasis lesion, the discrepancy is notable (P < 0.05). MSP results indicate BRMS1 gene promotor methylation is coordinated with its down-expression in supraglottic cancer tissue. BRMS1 promotor area methylation analysis reveal that there were 34 patients with methylation in 70 patients' supraglottic cancer tumor primary lesion, hold 48.6% (34/70); 32 patients have methylation in 44 patients' cervical metastasis lymph node tissue, hold 72.7% (32/44); however, there is no methylation in 60 para carcinoma tissue (r(s) = 0.66, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of BRMS1 protein in supraglottic cancer is significantly decreased. It had correlation with clinical stage and pathologic differentiation and cervical lymph node metastasis of supraglottic cancer. BRMS1 gene promotor methylation is related with down-expression of BRMS1 gene protein of supraglottic cancer. Maybe BRMS1 gene promotor methylation is one of the reasons of its down-expression.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Glottis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Repressor Proteins ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck