Aberrant DNA methylation associated with MTHFR C677T genetic polymorphism in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in renal transplant patients.

BACKGROUND

Changes in genomic DNA methylation associated with cancer include global DNA hypomethylation and gene-specific hyper- or hypomethylation. We have previously identified a genetic variant in the MTHFR gene involved in the methylation pathway which confers risk for the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in renal transplant patients. This genetic variant has also been discovered to confer SCC risk in nontransplant patients with low folate status.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the methylation profile of SCC compared with adjacent non-neoplastic skin using pyrosequencing, and to elucidate whether the MTHFR polymorphism impacts upon the methylation patterns in SCC.

METHODS

We used pyrosequencing to evaluate global (using long interspersed nuclear element 1) and gene-specific (p16 and MGMT) methylation status in 47 SCCs and 40 adjacent autologous non-neoplastic skin samples in those with (n = 16) and without (n = 17) the MTHFR polymorphism.

RESULTS

Pyrosequencing methylation analysis revealed that SCC was hypomethylated compared with adjacent non-neoplastic skin (P < 0.04). Patients with the MTHFR polymorphism had higher levels of global methylation in tumours and non-neoplastic skin compared with those without the MTHFR polymorphism (P < 0.002). There was no association between levels of methylation in tumour and non-neoplastic skin for the genes MGMT and p16.

CONCLUSIONS

Global hypomethylation appears to be a feature of SCC. Aberrant methylation of DNA appears related to polymorphisms of MTHFR. Such findings suggest that intervention in the form of demethylating agents or folate supplementation might be beneficial in the treatment or prevention of SCC.