Hypomethylation and increased gene expression of p16(INK4a) in primary and metastatic breast carcinoma as compared to normal breast tissue Journal Article


Authors: Van Zee, K. J.; Calvano, J. E.; Bisogna, M.
Article Title: Hypomethylation and increased gene expression of p16(INK4a) in primary and metastatic breast carcinoma as compared to normal breast tissue
Abstract: Controversy continues to surround the role of p16(INK4a) in cell cycle control and carcinogenesis. Mutations, deletions and changes in methylation patterns of p16(INK4a) have been proposed as mechanisms leading to abnormal expression of the gene. We show here that primary and metastatic breast carcinomas demonstrate hypomethylation of p16(INK4a) which is associated with expression of p16(INK4a) mRNA, as compared to normal breast tissue which demonstrates a relative hypermethylation of p16(INK4a) associated with the absence of p16(INK4a) expression. These data suggest that methylation and lack of expression of p16(INK4a) is not a central mechanism in the development of breast carcinoma, but rather that the gene is functioning and expressed in breast carcinoma more frequently than in normal breast tissue. The role of p16(INK4a) is much more complex than has been previously hypothesized.
Keywords: clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; human cell; methylation; protein p16; metastasis; gene expression; breast; tumor cells, cultured; breast neoplasms; dna methylation; gene expression regulation, neoplastic; dna; messenger rna; rna, messenger; breast carcinoma; dna, neoplasm; cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16; cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor; expression; p16(ink4a); humans; human; female; priority journal; article; normal breast tissue
Journal Title: Oncogene
Volume: 16
Issue: 21
ISSN: 0950-9232
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 1998-05-28
Start Page: 2723
End Page: 2727
Language: English
PUBMED: 9652738
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Kimberly J Van Zee
    293 Van Zee
  2. Jacqueline E Calvano
    18 Calvano