Tumour suppressor gene methylation and cervical cell folate concentration are determinants of high-risk human papillomavirus persistence: a nested case control study

Table 5 Frequency of gene specific methylation according to case or control status and cytology group

	Frequency of sample methylation [%]
	DAPK		CDH1		MGMT		MLH1		P16
	Case	Control	Case	Control	Case	Control	Case	Control	Case	Control
Mild	26.5 [13/49]	14 [7/50]	32.7 [16/49]	40 [20/50]	12.2 [6/49]	10 [5/50]	0 [0/49]	0 [0/50]	2.0 [1/49]	0 [0/50]
Borderline	28 [14/50]	14 [7/50]	42 [21/50]	56 [28/50]	14 [7/50]	10 [5/50]	0 [0/50]	0 [0/50]	0 [0/50]	0 [0/50]
Normal	6 [6/100]	6 [6/100]	26 [26/100]	33 [33/100]	10 [10/100]	10 [10/100]	1 [1/100]	0 [0/100]	5 [5/100]	7 [7/100]
Total	23.6^a [47/199]	17 [34/200]	31.7 [63/199]	40.5^b [81/200]	11.6 [23/199]	5.5 [11/200]	0.05 [1/199]	0 [0/200]	3 [6/199]	3.5 [7/200]

Promoter methylation of selected tumour suppressor genes, expressed as a percentage of women in each group. Values are shown for cases and controls, according to cytology group.
^aSignificantly greater than controls, P = 0.001; ^bSignificantly greater than cases, P = 0.016.

ISSN: 1471-2407