Methylation of p16 (INK4A), p14 (ARF), TIMP3, CDH1, p15 (INK4B )and DAPK1 in medulloblastoma (MB) and ependymoma has been discussed controversially in the literature.
To investigate the role of aberrant epigenetic events in ependymoma and identify critical genes in its pathogenesis, the methylation status of nine tumour suppressor genes (TSGs: p14(ARF), p15(INK4B), p16(INK4A), CASP8, MGMT, TIMP3, TP73, RB1 and RASSF1A) was assessed.
Sixteen cases of ependymoma were studied for CDKN2A/p16 inactivation by immunohistochemistry using a p16 monoclonal antibody, by homozygous deletion (HD) assay and 5'CpG promoter methylation assay (methylation-specific PCR).