Clinical and prognostic effects of CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 promoter methylation in ovarian cancer: a study using meta-analysis and TCGA data

Background: Promoter methylation of tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 has been reported in ovarian cancer. However, the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic role of CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 promoter methylation in ovarian carcinoma remained unclear. Methods: The pooled odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in this meta-analysis. The Cancer Genome Atlas data were obtained to confirm the role of CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 methylation in ovarian cancer. Results: CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 promoter methylation was higher in ovarian cancer than in normal ovarian tissues. CDH13 promoter methylation was correlated with tumour histology (serous vs. non-serous type: OR = 0.33, p = 0.031). CDKN2A promoter methylation was not linked to overall survival (OS), but it was correlated with a poor prognosis in progression-free survival (HR = 1.55, p = 0.004). TCGA data showed no correlation between CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 methylation and OS as well as disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusions: CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDH13 promoter methylation may correlate with the increased risk of ovarian cancer. CDKN2A promoter methylation may be an independent prognostic biomarker for predicting progression-free survival.