Evaluation of P38 gene expression and promoter methylation of this gene in tumor and marginal samples of patients with melanoma

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma is known as one of the deadliest cancers. MAPK is a family of kinase enzymes responsible for the phosphorylation of microtubule 2 (MAP2). This protein family plays a significant role in many cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, cell death and even migration. P38 protein is a subfamily of MAPKs. A lot of evidence proves the role of P38, especially P38α, in suppressing tumors, which is mostly done by negative adjustments in the cell cycle project and induction of apoptosis. However, P38α can have an oncogenic function that helps in the process of cancer progression. Environmental stress and inflammatory cytokines and necrosis factor (TNF) receptor signal activate P38s, which play a role in things like invasion, inflammation, angiogenesis and proliferation, etc. For this reason, we decided to investigate the expression level of P38 gene and methylation of this gene in patients with malignant melanoma. Method: In this research, 50 patients were selected and after obtaining written consent, two samples, one from the tumor tissue and the other from the healthy marginal tissue (100 samples in total), were taken from them during surgery for the removal of cancerous tissue and were dissolved by the surgeon. The holder is transferred. Then, the resulting biopsy samples were transported to a molecular laboratory by maintaining the cold chain, and first the DNA of the samples was extracted for the methylation of this gene by means of the bisulphite method, followed by MS-HRM in the tissue samples of the affected patients. Melanoma with margin group samples, we will examine the amount of the resulting changes. Results: Its expression and methylation levels are significantly higher in melanoma patients. Also, these expression changes in some cases were related to the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.