RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 RUNX3 Promoter Region is Specifically Methylated in Poorly-differentiated Colorectal Cancer JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 2627 OP 2630 VO 25 IS 4 A1 IMAMURA, YASUHIRO A1 HIBI, KENJI A1 KOIKE, MASAHIKO A1 FUJIWARA, MICHITAKA A1 KODERA, YASUHIRO A1 ITO, KATSUKI A1 NAKAO, AKIMASA YR 2005 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/4/2627.abstract AB Background, Materials and Methods: It has recently become clear that RUNX3 expression is frequently silenced by aberrant methylation in gastric cancers. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of the RUNX3 gene in 92 resected primary colorectal cancers using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and correlated the results with the clinicopathological features of affected patients. Results: Aberrant promoter methylation of the RUNX3 gene was detected in 31 out of 92 (34%) colorectal cancers. A significant difference in histology (p=0.028) was also found on comparing the RUNX3 methylation of poorly-differentiated colorectal cancers to that of other differentiated ones. Conclusion: RUNX3 aberrant methylation might play an important role in colorectal cancers, especially in poorly-differentiated colorectal cancers. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved