Abstract:

Objective To detect the FHIT gene promoter methylation and protein expression in mycosis fungoides （MF）. Methods Tissue specimens were collected from 48 patients with MF and 18 normal human controls. FHIT protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry, and methylation status of FHIT gene by methylation-specific PCR. Results Abnormal methylation of FHIT gene was found in 26 （54.2%） out of the 48 specimens. Thirty （63.5%） specimens of MF were negative for FHIT protein, which was observed in all the control specimens. The promoter methylation of FHIT was closely correlated with the protein expression of FHIT, but unrelated to the sex of, tumor staging or lymph node metastasis in patients with MF. Conclusion The FHIT gene promoter methylation may contribute to the inactivation and abnormal expression of FHIT protein in MF.

Key words: Methylation, lymphoma, T-cell, promoter regions, gene