Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the level of Methylation of the CpG island in the MT-3 gene in esophageal carcinoma in Kazaks and Hans ethnic groups. METHODS：The methylation of MT-3 gene was assessed by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in esophageal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. RESULTS：The methylation rates of the MT-3 gene in esophageal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were 66.7% (22/33) and 27.3% (9/33)，respectively in Kazaks，56.7% (17/30) and 26.7% (8/30)，respectively in Hans. Significant differences were seen in the methylation rates of MT-3 gene in esophageal cancer and adjacent tissues(χ2=10.280， P=0. 001； χ2=5.554，P=0.018). But there were no significant differences in the methylation rates in esophageal cancer and adjacent tissues between Kazaks and Hans. CONCLUSION：Aberrant promoter methylation of the CpG island in MT-3 gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma，but it may not be a specific risk factor for esophageal cancer in the Kazaks.

Key words: Kazak ethnicity, Han ethnicity, esophageal cancer, metallothionein-3, methylation specific PCR