Evaluation of the PRSS8 Gene Methylation Pattern in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is the seventh cause of cancer deaths in the worldwide. Epigenetic changes including methylation of genes promoter can play an important role in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell (ESCC). The aim of this investigation was to determine the PRSS8 gene methylation pattern in patients with ESCC. This case-control study was conducted on 150 paraffin blocks, including 75 paraffin blocks of cancerous tissues and 75 non-cancerous tissues paraffin blocks in ESCC patients. The Blocks in this study were from the archives of Noor-e-Nejat and Tabriz International Hospitals during 2013-2017. After DNA extraction and treatment with sodium metabisulfite, the PRSS8 gene methylation promoter was evaluated using High Resolution Melting (HRM) method. The findings revealed that there was a significant difference between the cancerous tissues and non-cancerous tissues regarding the level of PRSS8 gene methylation (P=0.026). In addition, the relationship between PRSS8 gene methylation and metastasis revealed no significant change in terms of clinicopathological parameters (P=0.007). The present investigation showed that the PRSS8 gene promoter hypermethylation can play a critical role in the carcinogenesis and metastasis of ESCC