Methylation of p16 and p15 genes in multiple myeloma.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of p16 and p15 gene methylation in multiple myeloma (MM), and its relationship with bone marrow cell apoptosis and clinical outcome. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with MM were studied to detect p16 and p15 gene methylation. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to detect gene methylation, and terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect cell apoptosis. RESULTS: p16 and/or p15 gene methylatoin was detected in 10 of 22 patients (45.4%). There were 3 patients with p16 gene methylation, 9 patients with p15 gene methylation, and 2 patients with both genes methylation. The incidence of methylation of p15 gene was higher than that of p16 gene (P < 0.05). The patients with p16 and/or p15 gene methylation had a delayed cell apoptosis, poor response to chemotherapy, and a short over-all survival (OS). CONCLUSION: The methylation of p16 and/or p15 gene plays a key role in MM apoptosis pathogenesis. The patients with both p16 and p15 gene methylation had a poor prognosis.