Analysis of FHIT Gene Methylation in Egyptian Breast Cancer Women: Association with Clinicopathological Features

Background: Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a tumor suppressor gene which involved in breast cancerpathogenesis. Epigenetics alterations in FHIT contributes to tumorigenesis of breast cancer.
Objective: Ourobjective was to study FHIT promoter region hypermethylation in Egyptian breast cancer patients and itsassociation with clinicopathological features. Materials and
Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chainreaction was performed to study the hypermethylation of FHIT promoter region in 20 benign breast tissues and30 breast cancer tissues.
Results: The frequency of hypermethylation of FHIT promoter region was significantlyincreased in breast cancer patients compared to bengin breast disease patients. The Odd´s ratio (95%CI) ofdevelopment of breast cancer in individuals with FHIT promoter hypermethylation (MM) was 11.0 (1.22-250.8).There were also significant associations between FHIT promoter hypermethylation and estrogen, progesteronereceptors negativity, tumor stage and nodal involvment in breast cancer pateints.
Conclusions: Our resultssupport an association between FHIT promotor hypermethylation and development of breast cancer in Egyptianbreast cancer patients. FHIT promoter hypermethylation is associated with some poor prognostic features ofbreast cancer.