Aim: To explore the association of methylation of the CpG island in the promotor of the p16 tumor suppressor gene with the clinicopathological characteristics of the colorectal cancers.
Methods: Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect p16 methylation of 62 sporadic colorectal cancer specimens.
Results: p16 methylation was detected in 42% of the tumors.Dukes'staging was associated with p16 methylation status.p16 methylation occurred more frequently in Dukes'C and D patients (75.9%) than in Dukes'A and B patients (12.1%).
Conclusion: p16 methylation plays a role in the carcinogenesis of a subset of colorectal cancer, and it might be linked to poor prognosis.