Abstract:

[Abstract] Objective To investigate aberrant methylation in the promoter area of P16INK4a gene and its protein expression in mycosis fungoides and large plaque parapsoriasis, and to evaluate the association with the different type of mycosis fungoides. Methods Immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR(MSP) were performed on 14 cases of mycosis fungoides and four cases of large plaque parapsoriasis in paraffin embeded samples to detect the expression level of P16INK4aprotein and its methylation state. Results In mycosis fungoides group, nine cases expressed low level of P16INK4a protein and ten cases diplayed P16INK4a methylation. In large plaque parapsoriasis group, only one case expressed low level of P16INK4a protein, all four cases showed P16INK4a methylation. There was no significantly difference between the mycosis fungoides group and the large plaque parapsoriasis group, and there was no significantly difference among different stages of mycosis fungoides（P>0.05）.Conclusion The methylation status of P16INK4a and the expression of its protein may have no relationship with the different type of mycosis fungoides.