THOR methylation as potential diagnostic and prognostic pancreatic cancer biomarker

Authors and Affiliations:

Faleiro I^1,2,3, Apolónio JD^1,2,3, Price AJ⁴, De Mello RA^1,3, Roberto VP^1,2,3, Tabori U⁵, Castelo-Branco P^1,2,3.

1. Department of Biomedical Sciences & Medicine, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Edifício 2, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.

2. Centre for Biomedical Research (CBMR), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.

3. Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.

4. Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.

5. Arthur & Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract:

Aim: We explore the biomarker potential of the TERT hypermethylated oncologic region (THOR) in pancreatic cancer. 

Materials & methods: We assessed the methylation status of THOR using the cancer genome atlas data on the cohort of pancreatic cancer (n = 193 patients). 

Results: THOR was significantly hypermethylated in pancreatic tumor tissue when compared with the normal tissue used as control (p < 0.0001). Also, THOR hypermethylation could distinguish early stage I disease from normal tissue and was associated with worse prognosis. 

Discussion: We found that THOR is hypermethylated in pancreatic tumor tissue when compared with normal tissue and that THOR methylation correlates with TERT expression in tumor samples. 

Conclusion: Our preliminary findings support the diagnostic and prognostic values of THOR in pancreatic cancer.

Journal: Future Oncology

Link: https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/fon-2017-0167?rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&journalCode=fon