Methylation status of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyl transferase promoter region in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis.

Background: O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyl transferase (MGMT), a DNA repair gene, is a key enzyme for predicting the response to both radiotherapy and temozolomide in glioma patients. Data on the MGMT promoter methylation status in relation to the time to develop intracranial new metastasis or local relapse at the surgical site after brain surgery followed by radiotherapy is limited in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a single brain metastasis.
Methods: All 55 patients included in this analysis were NSCLC with a single brain metastasis and had undergone brain surgery followed by radiotherapy. Genomic DNA was extracted from the brain tumour. The DNA was treated with bisulphate and a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed. Survival was compared by the status of promoter region of MGMT.
Results: The time to develop intracranial new metastases or local relapse at the surgical site after treatment in patients with methylation of the MGMT promoter region was 4.0 months (N = 5), while that of the patients without methylation of the MGMT promoter region was 11.5 months (N = 50) (p = 0.37).
Conclusions: NSCLC patients with brain metastasis treated by brain surgery followed by radiotherapy may have a higher chance of relapse when the tumour has methylation of the MGMT promoter region.