Diagnostic Value of RASSF1A gene DNA methylation in Differential Diagnosis of Thyroid Benign Tumors and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy that its incidence hascontinuously increased in recent decades all over the world. Thyroid cancer in Iranis the seventh most common cancer in women and the 14th in men and the 11th mostcommon cancer in both genders. The study on the methylation status of RASSF1Agene promoter has shown that this gene is methylated in 35% of benign andmalignant thyroid tumors. Hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene use for thedifferentiation of benign tumors from malignant of thyroid gland. The aim of thisstudy was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of DNA methylation ofRASSF1A gene in the differential diagnosis of benign tumors from papillary thyroidcarcinoma.160 samples of patients with malignant thyroid tumors (80 samples) andbenign thyroid (80 samples) were entered into this study from all patients referringto Ahwaz medical centers. The Hypermethylation of the gene after DNA extractionwas done by COBRA method. Finally, for calculating sensitivity and specificity ofthe two tests were done by epidemiological calculations.The sensitivity andspecificity of Hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene test were 91.25% and 15%respectively.Hypermethylation of the promoter of the RASSF1A gene as a diagnosistest is more sensitive to differential diagnosis of benign tumors from papillarythyroid carcinoma.