Methylation of the WNT5A gene is frequently detected in early gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, it has been reported that WNT5A methylation was frequently detected in colorectal cancers. However, the relationship between the WNT5A methylation and the characteristics of gastric cancer remains unknown. METHODOLOGY: Methylation status of the WNT5A gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 38 patients with gastric cancer using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and the correlation between the methylation status and the clinicopathological findings was evaluated. RESULTS: Aberrant methylation of the WNT5A gene was detected in 7 out of the 38 (18%) primary gastric carcinomas, suggesting that the methylation of WNT5A is observed in gastric carcinomas as well as colorectal ones. The clinicopathological data were correlated with the methylation results. A significant difference was observed in the extent of tumor (p=0.0226). Moreover, a trend was shown towards early TNM stages in methylated tumors (p=0.209). CONCLUSIONS: WNT5A was more frequently methylated in early gastric carcinomas.