IADR Abstract Archives

DARK1 Hypermethylation in OSCC and Oral Leukoplakia

Objectives: Epigenetic changes (including hypermethylation) are heritable modifications in gene expression without alterations of the DNA sequences. They occur more frequently than gene mutations and are potentially reversible.
Epigenetics may play a key role in the initiation and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and DNA-hypermethylation have been implicated as an effective mechanism of tumor suppressor gene inactivation
DAPK1(9q21.33) is a tumor suppresssor gene, associated with hypermethylation in different types of cancer including OSCC .
Methods: Evaluation DNA-hypermethylation of DAPK in samples taken from the laboratory of Oral Medicine of the Dentistry School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Ag. Loukas Hospital of Thessaloniki, Greece: 60 samples of oral leukoplakia-OL, subdivided into: hyperkeratosis/no dysplasia, mild, moderated and severe dysplasia), 40 samples of OSCC subdivided into well-differentiated, moderately-differentiated and poorly-differentiated as well as normal oral tissues. DAPK hypermethylation was evaluated using bisulfate conversion and Methylation specific PCR-MSP techniques.
Results: DAPK1 hypermethylation was associated with OSCC but not with OL.
Significant difference in DAPK1 hypemethylation was found between OSCC and normal tissues (p<0.001) and between OSCC and OL (p<0.0001). There was no difference in DAPK1 hypermethylation between various grades of OSCC.
39% of samples of OL-mild dysplasia expressed DAPK 1hypermethylation. Significant difference in DAPK1 hypermethylation was found between OL-mild dysplasia and OL- severe dysplasia (p=0.032)
No significant difference in DAPK1 hypermethylation was found between OL and normal tissues (p=0.685).
Conclusions: Since epigenetic changes occur early in carcinogenesis and are potentially reversible, they could be used as bio-markers, even as therapeutic targets in human cancer. These results indicate that DAPK1 is epigenetically inactivated by hypermethylation in most cases of OSCC but not in OL and this could be associated with initiation, progression and prognosis of OSCC.

2021 Continental European and Scandinavian Divisions Meeting (Brussels, Belgium, Hybrid)
Brussels, Belgium, Hybrid
2021
0283.4
Oral Medicine & Pathology Research
  • Poulopoulos, Athanasios  ( School of Dentistry, Aristotle University , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Chatzivasileiou, Apostolos  ( School of Dentistry, Aristotle University , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Papadopoulos, Petros  ( School of Dentistry, Aristotle University , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Louizou, Eirini  ( Bioiatriki SA , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Tsirtsaki, Aikaterini  ( Bioiatriki SA , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Vahtsevanos, Konstantinos  ( School of Dentistry, Aristotle University , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Tsekos, Antonios  ( "Ag. Loukas" Hospital , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Fotiadou, Anastasia  ( Histology Lab , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • Andreadis, Dimitrios  ( School of Dentistry, Aristotle University , Thessaloniki , Greece )
  • None
    Poster Session ALL VIRTUAL
    Oral health & medicine