<i>LINE-1</i> hypomethylation and <i>HIST1H4F</i> hypermethylation as oncomarkers in liquid biopsy of colorectal cancer

Abstract

Introduction. Local hypermethylation of gene promoters and global genome hypomethylation are well-known manifestations of aberrant methylation associated with carcinogenesis. We investigated this phenomenon as a possible diagnostic marker for liquid biopsy of colorectal cancer using the original quantitative DNA melting analysis with hybridiza-tion probes (qDMA-HP) method. Aim. To quantify the methylation of HIST1H4F promoter and LINE-1 transposon in circulating blood plasma DNA of colorectal cancer patients. Materials and methods. Bisulfite-treated DNA samples isolated from blood plasma of healthy donors and cancer patients were analyzed. HIST1H4F methylation was assessed by asymmetric polymerase chain reaction with hybridized probe and post-amplification melting of probe / amplicon hybrids. To test for repetitive and highly polymorphic LINE-1 sequences, asymmetric polymerase chain reaction with hybridized probe and SYBR Green intercalating dye was used, followed by melting of hybrids and analysis of multicomponent melt curves. Results. High diagnostic efficiency of LINE-1 and HIST1H4F methylation markers in liquid biopsy of colorectal cancer was demonstrated with the area under the ROC curve = 0.92, sensitivity – 100 %, specificity – 84 %. Cross validation supports this result. Hypermethylation of HIST1H4F and hypomethylation of LINE-1 are statistically significantly correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0.4; p = 0.01). Conclusion. The qDMA-HP is suitable for quantitative assessment of aberrant methylation of various clinically significant genes.