Is OLP potentially malignant? A clue from ZNF582 methylation

OBJECTIVE

Whether oral lichen planus (OLP) was potentially malignant remains controversial. Here, we examined associations of ZNF582 methylation (ZNF582^m ) with OLP lesions, dysplastic features and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a case-control study. ZNF582^m was evaluated in both lesion and adjacent normal sites of 42 dysplasia, 90 OSCC and 43 OLP patients, whereas ZNF582^m was evaluated only in one mucosal site of 45 normal controls. High-risk habits affecting ZNF582^m such as betel nut chewing and cigarette smoking were also compared in those groups.

RESULTS

OLP lesions showed significantly lower ZNF582^m than those of dysplasia and OSCC. At adjacent normal mucosa, ZNF582^m increased from patients of OLP, dysplasia, to OSCC. In addition, ZNF582^m at adjacent normal sites in OLP patients was comparable to normal mucosa in control group. Dysplasia/OSCC patients with high-risk habits exhibited significantly higher ZNF582^m than those without high-risk habits. However, ZNF582^m in OLP patients was not affected by those high-risk habits.

CONCLUSIONS

OLP is unlikely to be potentially malignant based on ZNF582^m levels. ZNF582^m may also be a potential biomarker for distinguishing OLP from true dysplastic features and OSCC, and for monitoring the malignant transformation of OLP, potentially malignant disorders with dysplastic features and OSCC.

Evaluation of DNA methylation in matched oral swab and tissue specimens from Chinese patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

The DNA methylation statuses of the paired box 1 (PAX1) and zinc finger protein 582 (ZNF582) genes have shown promise in the detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of PAX1 and ZNF582 methylation to distinguish OSCC and the adjacent normal tissue among cancer patients. This study included 67 patients with OSCC. The methylation levels of these two genes were analysed in tissue specimens (lesion site and adjacent normal site) and in oral swabs (lesion site and contralateral normal site). Levels of DNA methylation were higher at lesion sites than at the corresponding normal sites. According to receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, the area under the curve for PAX1 and ZNF582 methylation ranged from 0.73 to 0.82. No significant difference was observed between tissue specimens and oral swabs (PAX1, P= 0.41; ZNF582, P=0.28). For the oral swab, PAX1 methylation was more pronounced in bone invasion (Z=1.988, P= 0.047), and ZNF582 methylation was more pronounced in early-stage (Z=2.354, P= 0.02) and well-differentiated tumours (Z=3.731, P= 0.0002). Hypermethylated PAX1 and ZNF582 are effective biomarkers to distinguish lesion sites and corresponding normal sites in tissue specimens and oral swabs from OSCC patients.

ZNF582 methylation as a potential biomarker to predict cervical intraepithelial neoplasia type III/worse: A meta-analysis of related studies in Chinese population

OBJECTIVE

DNA methylation markers have been assessed as potential biomarkers for early cervical cancer detection. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of zinc finger protein 582 (ZNF582) methylation for cervical cancer detection.

METHODS

Eligible studies were systematically searched from the electronic databases. The quality of enrolled studies was evaluated using the second version of the check list for Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). The bivariate meta-analysis model was employed to plot the summary receiver operator characteristic (SROC) curve using Stata 14.0 software. Cochran's Q test and I statistics were applied to assess heterogeneity among studies. Publication bias was evaluated by the Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test.

RESULTS

Seven studies composed of 1749 patients were eventually included. The pooled sensitivity of ZNF582 methylation was estimated to be 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-0.75] in differentiating patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia type III/worse (CIN3+), corresponding to a specificity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.79-0.83) and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85. Our stratified analysis suggested that sequential combined of HPV DNA and ZNF582 methylation test (AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.876, 0.75, and 0.87, respectively) achieved higher diagnostic accuracy than single HPV DNA testing test (AUC, sensitivity and specificity of 0.669, 0.96, and 0.41, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ZNF582 methylation has a prospect to be an auxiliary biomarker for cervical cancer screening. A new strategy of co-testing HPV DNA and ZNF582 methylation test in cervical scrapings confers an improved diagnostic accuracy than single HPV DNA testing.