Combination of different methodologies elucidates tumor specific methylation in medulloblastoma

Introduction: The methylation status of the CpG Islands of p16, p14, CDH1, TIMP3 and MGMT plays a role in the origin and spread of malignancies. We examined the methylation status of their CpG Islands in medulloblastomas and other common malignant brain tumors of childhood, by Methylation Specific PCR (MSP), COmbined Bisulfit Restriction Analysis (COBRA) and Bisulfit Sequencing. Results: MSP revealed aberrant methylation in 24/57 (MGMT), 11/53 (p14), 16/58 (p16), 6/60 (TIMP3) and 38/56 (CDH1) medulloblastomas (MB), while normal cerebella showed only limited methylation for CDH1 (3/7) and MGMT (3/9). The reexamin…