The CpG Island Methylator Phenotype and Chromosomal Instability Are Inversely Correlated in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Background & Aims: The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is one of the mechanisms involved in colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC). Although CIMP is probably the cause of high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) sporadic CRCs, its role in microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors is debated. The majority of MSS CRCs demonstrate chromosomal instability (CIN) with frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at key tumor suppressor genes. We hypothesized that the majority of sporadic CRCs without CIN would be associated with CIMP. Methods: We tested 126 sporadic CRCs for MSI and LOH and categorized tumors into MSI, LOH, or MSI-/LOH- subgroups. Methylation status was evaluated using 6 CIMP-related markers (MINT1, MINT2, MINT31, p16INK4α, p14ARF, and hMLH1) and 6 tumor suppressor genes (PTEN, TIMP3, RUNX3, HIC1, APC, and RARβ2). BRAF V600E mutation analysis was performed using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Results: We observed frequent methylation at all 12 loci in all CRCs. BRAF V600E mutations correlated with the MSI (P < .0001). We also found an inverse correlation between the frequencies of methylation and LOH (ρ = -0.36; P