DNA Methylation Analysis of the Hippo signalling Pathway Core Component Genes in Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies among women. According to the World Health Organization (2020), an estimated 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, while 685,000 died worldwide. Therefore, an early diagnosis of cancer is crucial for survival. This study analyses the methylation status of the promoter regions of core component genes of the hippo pathway. The Hippo pathway is a tumor suppressor pathway as this pathway hinders cell growth and cell proliferation and motivates cell death. Material and Methods: Methylation-sensitive PCR method was used to examine the altered methylation patterns of SAV1, LAST1/2, and MST1/2 in different breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, T47D, HCC1937, and BT-20). Results: Interestingly, we have found that the promoter regions of the genes being studied are all hemimethylated in all cell lines used in this investigation, apart from the LAST1 gene promoter, which was hypomethylated in T47D and HCC1937 cell lines. Conclusion: This indicates the importance of hemimethylation, as it is considered an aberrant methylation pattern. Thus, its effect on gene expression must be further considered.