JP5116938B2 - Method for evaluating the degree of canceration of a mammal-derived specimen - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the degree of canceration of a mammal-derived specimen.

  Although it is becoming increasingly clear that cancer is a disease caused by genetic abnormalities, the mortality rate of cancer patients is still high, and the evaluation of currently available diagnostic methods and treatment methods etc. is not always satisfactory It is not. One of the causes may be diversity based on the type of cancer tissue, low accuracy of a gene serving as a marker, low detection sensitivity, and the like.

"Cancer as a genetic disease" (ISBN4-89553-447-2 C3047), edited by Toshio Kuroki and Tadao Kakizoe, published by Medical View Inc. (May 10, 1994)

  Therefore, development of a method for evaluating the degree of canceration of a mammal-derived specimen based on detection of a genetic abnormality, which is suitable for evaluation of diagnostic methods and treatment methods for early detection of cancer, is eagerly desired.

As a result of intensive studies under these circumstances, the present inventors have found that a G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene (hereinafter sometimes referred to as GPR7 gene) is an immortalized normal cell line in cancer cell lines and cancer tissue samples. In addition, the present inventors have found that methylation is performed at a significantly higher frequency compared to normal tissue specimens, and have reached the present invention.
That is, the present invention
1. A method for evaluating the degree of canceration of a mammal-derived specimen,
(1) First step of measuring the methylation frequency of G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene contained in a mammal-derived specimen, and (2) obtained by comparing the measured methylation frequency with a control. An evaluation method characterized by having a second step of determining the degree of canceration of the specimen based on the difference (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the present invention evaluation method);
2. 2. The evaluation method according to item 1 above, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a cell;
3. 2. The evaluation method according to item 1 above, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a tissue;
4). 2. The evaluation method according to item 1 above, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a cell, and the canceration degree of the specimen is a malignancy of a mammal-derived cell;
5. 2. The evaluation method according to item 1 above, wherein the mammal-derived specimen is a tissue, and the cancerous degree of the specimen is an abundance of cancer cells in the mammal-derived tissue;
6). The evaluation method according to item 5 above, wherein the tissue is pancreatic tissue and the cancer is pancreatic cancer;
7). The methylation frequency of a cytosine in the nucleotide sequence represented by one or more 5'-CG-3 'existing in the nucleotide sequence in the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region of the gene The evaluation method according to item 1, characterized in that:
8). The evaluation method according to item 7 above, wherein the tissue is pancreatic tissue and the cancer is pancreatic cancer;
9. The methylation frequency of a gene is the methylation frequency of cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more 5′-CG-3 ′ present in the base sequence in the promoter region of the gene The evaluation method according to item 1 above;
10. The methylation frequency of a gene is the methylation frequency of cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more 5′-CG-3 ′ present in the base sequence in the untranslated region or translated region of the gene. The evaluation method according to item 1 above, characterized by:
11. The methylation frequency of the gene is the methylation frequency of cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more 5′-CG-3 ′ present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. The evaluation method according to 1,
12 12. The evaluation method according to 11 above, wherein the tissue is pancreatic tissue and the cancer is pancreatic cancer;
13. Use of methylated G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene as a cancer marker;
14 14. The use according to item 13 above, wherein the cancer marker is a pancreatic cancer marker;

The present invention is described in detail below.
The present invention relates to the use of a methylated G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene (hereinafter sometimes referred to as GPR7 gene) as a cancer marker (eg, pancreatic cancer marker).
Examples of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene used as a marker gene in the present invention include an untranslated region and a translated region (coding region) containing a base sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of a human-derived G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. And a promoter region located 5 ′ upstream thereof. The amino acid sequence of the human G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene and the base sequence encoding it are described in, for example, Genbank Accession No. NM_005285. In addition, among the untranslated region and the translated region (coding region) containing the base sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene derived from human, the exon located on the most upstream side (hereinafter referred to as exon 1) And the base sequence of genomic DNA containing a promoter region located 5 ′ upstream thereof is described in, for example, Genbank Accession No. AC009800. In the base sequence described in Genbank Accession No. AC009800, for example, the base sequence of exon 1 of human-derived G protein-coupled receptor 7 protein is represented by base numbers 76666 to 77652. The G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene used in the present invention includes not only genes having the above-mentioned known base sequences, but also natural bases such as species differences of individuals, individual differences or differences between organs and tissues. A gene having a base sequence in which deletion, substitution, or addition of a base due to the resulting mutation has occurred is also included.

  In mammals, there is a phenomenon in which only cytosine is methylated out of four types of bases constituting a gene (genomic DNA). For example, in a G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene derived from a mammal, a part of cytosine in the genomic DNA of the gene is methylated. The DNA methylation modification is performed in a base sequence represented by 5′-CG-3 ′ (C represents cytosine and G represents guanine. Hereinafter, the base sequence may be referred to as CpG). Limited to cytosine. The site that is methylated in cytosine is at position 5. During DNA replication prior to cell division, only cytosine in CpG of the template strand is methylated immediately after replication, but cytosine in CpG of the nascent strand is also methylated immediately by the action of methyltransferase. . Therefore, the DNA methylation state is inherited as it is by two new sets of DNA even after DNA replication.

  In the first step of the evaluation method of the present invention, “methylation frequency” means, for example, that cytosine is methylated when the presence or absence of cytosine methylation in CpG to be investigated is examined for a plurality of haploids. Expressed as a percentage of haploid.

The mammal-derived specimen in the first step of the evaluation method of the present invention may include, for example, cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells or tissues containing the same, and DNA derived from cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells. A cell, a tissue containing it (the tissue here has a broad meaning including blood, plasma, serum, lymph fluid, pancreatic fluid and other body fluids, lymph nodes, etc.) or body secretion (urine, milk, etc.) ) And the like. Specifically, for example, when the cancer is pancreatic cancer, pancreatic tissue (including pancreatic juice) collected from the subject animal can be exemplified.
These biological samples may be used as they are as specimens, or biological samples prepared by various operations such as separation, fractionation, and immobilization from such biological samples may be used as specimens.
When the mammal-derived specimen is blood, it can be expected that the evaluation method of the present invention will be used in periodic health examinations and simple tests.

  In the first step of the evaluation method of the present invention, a method for measuring the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene contained in the mammal-derived specimen may be performed, for example, as follows.

As a first method, DNA is first extracted from a mammal-derived specimen using, for example, a commercially available DNA extraction kit.
Incidentally, when blood is used as a specimen, plasma or serum is prepared from blood according to a normal method, and free DNA contained in the prepared plasma or serum as a specimen (cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells) Analysis of cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, avoiding blood cell-derived DNA, and detecting cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells and tissues containing them Sensitivity can be improved.
Next, after the extracted DNA is brought into contact with a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine, it is present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. DNA containing cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more CpGs is amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (hereinafter referred to as PCR) using a primer capable of identifying the presence or absence of cytosine methylation to be analyzed. Investigate the amount of amplification product obtained.
Here, as a base sequence represented by one or more CpGs present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene, human-derived G protein- The base sequence of genomic DNA containing exon 1 of the coupled receptor 7 gene and the promoter region located 5 ′ upstream thereof can be mentioned. More specifically, the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 (Genbank Accession This corresponds to the base sequence represented by base numbers 75001 to 78000 of the base sequence described in No. AC009800). In the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, the base sequence of exon 1 of human-derived G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is represented by base numbers 1666 to 2652. Cytosine in the base sequence represented by CpG present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 exhibits high methylation frequency (ie, hypermethylation) in cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells. . More specifically, as cytosine with high methylation frequency in pancreatic cancer cells, for example, in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542, 1560, 1564 , 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613, 1620, etc.

  As a reagent for modifying unmethylated cytosine, for example, bisulfite such as sodium bisulfite can be used. Incidentally, in principle, a reagent that specifically modifies only methylated cytosine may be used.

In order to bring the extracted DNA into contact with a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine, for example, the DNA is first denatured with an alkaline solution (pH 9-14), and then bisulfite (bisulfite) such as sodium hydrogen sulfite (solution Medium concentration: For example, the final concentration is 3 M) and the like, and the treatment is performed at 55 ° C. for about 10 to 16 hours (overnight). To accelerate the reaction, denaturation at 95 ° C and reaction at 50 ° C can be repeated 10-20 times. In this case, unmethylated cytosine is converted to uracil, while methylated cytosine is not converted to uracil and remains cytosine.
Next, when DNA treated with bisulfite or the like is used as a template and methylated cytosine is included, the base sequence [cytosine at the methylated position (cytosine in CpG) remains cytosine, PCR using a pair of methylation-specific primers each selected from a non-methylated cytosine (a cytosine not included in CpG is a uracil base sequence) and a base sequence complementary to the base sequence , And may also be referred to as methylation-specific PCR.) And nucleotide sequences when DNA treated with bisulfite or the like is used as a template and cytosine is not methylated (all cytosines became uracil) PCR using a pair of unmethylated specific primers each selected from a base sequence) and a base sequence complementary to such base sequence (hereinafter referred to as unmethylated specific P Sometimes also referred to as R.) And perform.
In the above PCR, in the case of PCR using methylation specific primers (the former), DNA in which cytosine to be analyzed is methylated is amplified, while in the case of PCR using unmethylation specific primers ( In the latter case, DNA in which cytosine to be analyzed is not methylated is amplified. By comparing the amounts of these amplified products, the presence or absence of methylation of the target cytosine is examined. In this way, the methylation frequency can be measured.

  Here, the methylation-specific primer is a cytosine that has undergone methylation in consideration that cytosine that has not been methylated is converted to uracil, and that cytosine that has undergone methylation is not converted to uracil. Design PCR primers (methylation specific primers) specific to nucleotide sequences containing, and PCR primers (non-methylation specific primers) specific to nucleotide sequences containing unmethylated cytosine To do. Since the design is based on DNA strands that have been chemically converted by bisulfite treatment and are no longer complementary, based on each strand of DNA that was originally double-stranded, a methylation specific primer and Unmethylated specific primers can also be made. Such a primer is preferably designed to contain cytosine in CpG in the vicinity of the 3 ′ end of the primer in order to increase the specificity of methyl and non-methyl. Further, in order to facilitate analysis, one of the primers may be labeled.

More specifically, the primer for measuring the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene by methylation-specific PCR is, for example, a promoter region, an untranslated region or a translated region of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. It can be designed as described above based on a base sequence containing one or more cytosines in CpG present in the base sequence in the (coding region). For example, cytosine in CpG existing in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, specifically, base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542, 1560 in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. , 1564, 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613, 1620, etc., can be designed based on a base sequence containing one or more cytosines. Examples of such primers are shown below.
<Unmethylated specific primer>
U1: 5'-TTTGTGGTGATATTGGGTT-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 2)
U2: 5'-ACACCCTACAAAACTCAACA-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 3)
<Methylation specific primer>
M1: 5′-CGCGGCGATATTGGGTC-3 ′ (SEQ ID NO: 4)
M2: 5'-AACGCCCTACGAAACTCAACG-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 5)

As a reaction solution in methylation-specific PCR, for example, 50 ng of DNA as a template, 1 μl of each primer solution of 10 pmol / μl, 4 μl of 2.5 mM dNTP, 10 × buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH8 .3, mix 2.5 μl of 500 mM KCl, 20 mM MgCl ₂ ) and 0.2 μl of thermostable DNA polymerase 5 U / μl, and add sterilized ultrapure water to this to make the reaction volume 25 μl. Can do. As the reaction conditions, for example, the above reaction solution is kept at 95 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds, then at 55 to 65 ° C. for 30 seconds, and further at 72 ° C. for 30 seconds for one cycle. The conditions for performing the heat insulation for 30 to 40 cycles are mentioned.
After performing such PCR, the amount of amplification product obtained is compared. For example, an analytical method (denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or agarose gel that can compare the amount of each amplification product obtained by PCR using a methylation specific primer and PCR using an unmethylated specific primer. In the case of electrophoresis, the gel after electrophoresis is stained with DNA to detect the band of the amplification product, and the concentration of the detected band is compared. Here, instead of DNA staining, a pre-labeled primer can be used to compare the band concentrations using the label as an index. In addition, when quantification is required, high-accuracy quantification that can detect even a slight difference about twice as much as the gene amount can be performed by monitoring PCR reaction products in real time and performing kinetic analysis. Real-time PCR, which is a possible PCR method, can also be used to compare the amount of each product. Examples of the method for performing real-time PCR include a method using a probe such as a template-dependent nucleic acid polymerase probe or a method using an intercalator such as Cyber Green. Equipment and kits for real-time PCR are already commercially available.

  Such a method is generally called methylation-specific PCR, and is a method reported by Herman et al. (Herman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 93, 9821-9826, 1996). Thus, this method utilizes the difference in chemical properties between cytosine and 5-methylcytosine.

As a second method, DNA is first extracted from a mammal-derived specimen using, for example, a commercially available DNA extraction kit.
Incidentally, when blood is used as a specimen, plasma or serum is prepared from blood according to a normal method, and free DNA contained in the prepared plasma or serum as a specimen (cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells) Analysis of cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, avoiding blood cell-derived DNA, and detecting cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells and tissues containing them Sensitivity can be improved.
Next, after the extracted DNA is brought into contact with a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine, it is present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. Amplification product obtained by amplifying by polymerase chain reaction (hereinafter referred to as PCR) using primers designed as described later on the basis of DNA containing cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more CpGs A method for directly analyzing the nucleotide sequence of can also be mentioned.
Here, as a base sequence represented by one or more CpGs present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene, human-derived G protein- The base sequence of genomic DNA containing exon 1 of the coupled receptor 7 gene and the promoter region located 5 ′ upstream thereof can be mentioned. More specifically, the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 (Genbank Accession This corresponds to the base sequence represented by base numbers 75001 to 78000 of the base sequence described in No. AC009800). In the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, the base sequence of exon 1 of human-derived G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is represented by base numbers 1666 to 2652. The cytosine in the base sequence represented by CpG present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, particularly the cytosine in CpG present in the region where CpG is densely present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, In cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, a high methylation frequency (ie, hypermethylation state) is exhibited. More specifically, as cytosine with high methylation frequency in pancreatic cancer cells, for example, in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542, 1560, 1564 , 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613, 1620, etc.

  The primer used for the PCR may be designed as a primer pair capable of amplifying DNA having a base sequence containing the cytosine based on the base sequence 5 ′ upstream and 3 ′ downstream of the cytosine to be analyzed. . The base sequence for primer design is selected so as not to contain cytosine in the CpG to be analyzed. If the base sequence selected for primer design does not contain cytosine at all, the selected base sequence and the base sequence complementary to the base sequence should be used as the base sequence of the primer. Can do. In addition, if the base sequence selected for primer design includes cytosine other than the target of analysis but the cytosine is not cytosine in CpG, the primer is designed in consideration of the conversion of these cytosines into uracil. . That is, a pair of primers each having a base sequence in which all cytosines are uracil and a base sequence complementary to the base sequence are designed. Furthermore, when the base sequence selected for primer design contains cytosine other than the analysis target and the cytosine is cytosine in CpG, cytosine that has not undergone methylation is converted to uracil, and methylation is performed. Primers are designed taking into account that the cytosine undergoing treatment is not converted to uracil. That is, the base sequence in the case where methylated cytosine is included [cytosine at the position to be methylated (cytosine in CpG) remains cytosine, and unmethylated cytosine (cytosine not included in CpG) is A base sequence in the form of uracil], a pair of methylation-specific primers each selected from a base sequence complementary to such a base sequence, and a base sequence when cytosine is not methylated (all cytosines are uracil) And a pair of unmethylated specific primers each having a base sequence complementary to the base sequence. In this case, in the above PCR, a methylation specific primer pair and an unmethylation specific primer pair are mixed in equal amounts and used.

  As a reagent for modifying unmethylated cytosine, for example, bisulfite such as sodium bisulfite can be used. Incidentally, in principle, a reagent that modifies only methylated cytosine may be used.

In order to bring the extracted DNA into contact with a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine, for example, first, the DNA is bisulphite (bisulfite) such as sodium bisulfite (concentration in the solution) in an alkaline solution (pH 9-14). : Treat at 55 ° C. for about 10 to 16 hours (overnight) with a final concentration of 3M, for example. To accelerate the reaction, denaturation at 95 ° C and reaction at 50 ° C can be repeated 10-20 times. In this case, unmethylated cytosine is converted to uracil, while methylated cytosine is not converted to uracil and remains cytosine.
Next, PCR is performed using DNA treated with bisulfite or the like as a template and using primers designed as described above. By comparing the base sequences of the obtained amplification products, the methylation frequency can be measured from the comparison.

More specifically, a primer for measuring the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene by direct analysis of the base sequence is, for example, a promoter region, an untranslated region or a translation of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. It can be designed as described above based on a base sequence containing one or more cytosines in CpG present in the base sequence in the region (coding region). For example, cytosine in CpG present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, specifically, base numbers 900, 902, 905, 922, 928, 930, 936, 957 in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. , 959, 961, 971, 974, 980, 982, 989, 999, 1005, 1028, 1040, 1047, 1061, 1067, and 1070, and can be designed based on a base sequence containing one or more cytosines. Examples of such primers are shown below.
Incidentally, in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, base numbers 900, 902, 905, 922, 928, 930, 936, 957, 959, 961, 971, 974, 980, 982, 989, 999, 1005, 1028, 1040 , 1047, 1061, 1067 and 1070, the base sequence after bisulfite treatment of base numbers 813 to 1106 in SEQ ID NO: 1 using the primer designed as described above to examine the methylation frequency of cytosine DNA (294 bp) corresponding to is amplified.
<Primer>
B1: 5'-ATTGGGATGGAAGAAAGGAATT-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 6)
B2: 5'-AATCTACCTTTCCTAAAACTATC-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 7)

As a reaction solution in PCR, for example, 25 ng of DNA as a template, 1 μl of each primer solution of 20 pmol / μl, 3 μl of 2 mM dNTP, 10 × buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 500 mM KCl, A reaction solution in which 2.5 μl of 15 mM MgCl ₂ ) and 0.2 μl of thermostable DNA polymerase 5 U / μl are mixed, and sterilized ultrapure water is added to make the solution volume 25 μl can be mentioned. As the reaction conditions, for example, the above reaction solution is kept at 95 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds, then at 50 ° C. for 30 seconds, and further at 72 ° C. for 30 seconds is one cycle. The condition which heat-insulates 30-40 cycles is mention | raise | lifted.
After performing such PCR, the base sequences of the amplification products obtained are compared, and the methylation frequency is measured from the comparison.
That is, by directly analyzing the base sequence of the amplification product, it is determined whether the base at the position corresponding to the cytosine to be analyzed is cytosine or thymine (uracil). In the peak chart showing the base in the obtained amplification product, by comparing the area of the peak showing cytosine detected at the position corresponding to the cytosine to be analyzed with the area of the peak showing thymine (uracil), The frequency of cytosine methylation to be analyzed can be measured. In addition, as a method for directly analyzing the base sequence, each cloned DNA is prepared from a plurality of clones obtained by cloning the amplification product obtained by PCR once using Escherichia coli or the like as a host. The base sequence may be analyzed. The frequency of cytosine methylation to be analyzed can also be measured by obtaining the ratio of the sample whose base detected at the position corresponding to the cytosine to be analyzed in the sample to be analyzed is cytosine.

As a third method, DNA is first extracted from a mammal-derived specimen using, for example, a commercially available DNA extraction kit.
Incidentally, when blood is used as a specimen, plasma or serum is prepared from blood according to a normal method, and free DNA contained in the prepared plasma or serum as a specimen (cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells) Analysis of cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, avoiding blood cell-derived DNA, and detecting cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells and tissues containing them Sensitivity can be improved.
Next, after the extracted DNA is brought into contact with a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine, it is present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. DNA containing cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more CpGs and a probe capable of discriminating the presence or absence of cytosine methylation to be analyzed are hybridized, and the presence or absence of binding between the DNA and the probe is determined. You can also give a way to check.
Here, as a base sequence represented by one or more CpGs present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene, human-derived G protein- The base sequence of genomic DNA containing exon 1 of the coupled receptor 7 gene and the promoter region located 5 ′ upstream thereof can be mentioned. More specifically, the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 (Genbank Accession This corresponds to the base sequence represented by base numbers 75001 to 78000 of the base sequence described in No. AC009800). In the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, the base sequence of exon 1 of human-derived G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is represented by base numbers 1666 to 2652. The cytosine in the base sequence represented by CpG present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, particularly the cytosine in CpG present in the region where CpG is densely present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, In cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, a high methylation frequency (ie, hypermethylation state) is exhibited. More specifically, as cytosine with high methylation frequency in pancreatic cancer cells, for example, in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542, 1560, 1564 , 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613, 1620, etc.

  The probe used for the hybridization is based on a base sequence containing cytosine to be analyzed, and cytosine that has not been methylated is converted to uracil, and methylated cytosine is not converted to uracil. It is better to design in consideration of this. That is, the base sequence in the case where methylated cytosine is included [cytosine at the position to be methylated (cytosine in CpG) remains cytosine, and unmethylated cytosine (cytosine not included in CpG) is Base sequence in which uracil is converted] or a methylation specific probe having a base sequence complementary to such a base sequence, and a base sequence in the case where cytosine is not methylated (base sequence in which all cytosines are converted into uracil) Or an unmethylated specific probe having a base sequence complementary to such a base sequence is designed. Such a probe may be used after being labeled in order to facilitate analysis of the presence or absence of binding between the DNA and the probe. In addition, the probe may be used by being immobilized on a carrier according to a usual method. In this case, DNA extracted from a mammal-derived specimen may be labeled in advance.

  As a reagent for modifying unmethylated cytosine, for example, bisulfite such as sodium bisulfite can be used. Incidentally, in principle, a reagent that specifically modifies only methylated cytosine may be used.

In order to bring the extracted DNA into contact with a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine, for example, the DNA is first denatured with an alkaline solution (pH 9-14), and then bisulfite (bisulfite) such as sodium hydrogen sulfite (solution Medium concentration: For example, the final concentration is 3 M) and the like, and the treatment is performed at 55 ° C. for about 10 to 16 hours (overnight). To accelerate the reaction, denaturation at 95 ° C and reaction at 50 ° C can be repeated 10-20 times. In this case, unmethylated cytosine is converted to uracil, while methylated cytosine is not converted to uracil and remains cytosine.
If necessary, the DNA may be amplified in advance by performing PCR in the same manner as in the second method using DNA treated with bisulfite or the like as a template.
Next, hybridization between DNA treated with bisulfite or the like or DNA previously amplified by PCR and a probe capable of identifying the presence or absence of methylation of cytosine to be analyzed is performed. By comparing the amount of DNA that binds to a methylation-specific probe and the amount of DNA that binds to an unmethylated-specific probe, the frequency of cytosine methylation to be analyzed can be measured.

More specifically, the probe for measuring the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is, for example, in the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene. It can be designed as described above based on a base sequence containing one or more cytosines in CpG present in the base sequence. For example, cytosine in CpG present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, specifically, base numbers 1472, 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542 in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. , 1560, 1564, 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613, 1620, etc., can be designed based on a base sequence containing one or more cytosines. Examples of such probes are shown below.
<Set 1>
Unmethylated specific probe: 5'-TTGTGAGTTTGTGGTGATATTGGGTTG-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 8)
Methylation specific probe: 5'-TCGTGAGTTCGCGGCGATATTGGGTCG-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 9)
<Set 2>
Unmethylated specific probe: 5'-TGTTGAGTTTTGTAGGGTGTT-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 10)
Methylation specific probe: 5'-CGTTGAGTTTCGTAGGGCGTT-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 11)

Hybridization is a conventional method described in, for example, Sambrook J., Frisch EF, Maniatis T., Molecular Cloning 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory press. It can be performed according to. Hybridization is usually performed under stringent conditions. Here, “under stringent conditions” means, for example, hybrid at 45 ° C. in a solution containing 6 × SSC (a solution containing 1.5M NaCl and 0.15M trisodium citrate is 10 × SSC). And the like (Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6) and the like. The salt concentration in the washing step can be selected, for example, from 2 × SSC at 50 ° C. (low stringency conditions) to 0.2 × SSC at 50 ° C. (high stringency conditions). The temperature in the washing step can be selected, for example, from room temperature (low stringency conditions) to 65 ° C. (high stringency conditions). It is also possible to change both the salt concentration and the temperature.
After such hybridization, the amount of DNA bound to the methylation-specific probe is compared with the amount of DNA bound to the non-methylation-specific probe, so that the cytosine to be analyzed (that is, the probe) The frequency of methylation of cytosine in CpG contained in the base sequence on which the design was based can be measured.

As a fourth method, DNA is first extracted from a mammal-derived specimen using, for example, a commercially available DNA extraction kit.
Incidentally, when blood is used as a specimen, plasma or serum is prepared from blood according to a normal method, and free DNA contained in the prepared plasma or serum as a specimen (cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells) Analysis of cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, avoiding blood cell-derived DNA, and detecting cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells and tissues containing them Sensitivity can be improved.
Next, after the extracted DNA is allowed to act on a restriction enzyme capable of identifying the presence or absence of methylation of cytosine to be analyzed, a method for examining the presence or absence of digestion with the restriction enzyme can also be mentioned.
Here, as a base sequence represented by one or more CpGs present in the base sequence of the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region (coding region) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene, human-derived G protein- The base sequence of genomic DNA containing exon 1 of the coupled receptor 7 gene and the promoter region located 5 ′ upstream thereof can be mentioned. More specifically, the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 (Genbank Accession This corresponds to the base sequence represented by base numbers 75001 to 78000 of the base sequence described in No. AC009800). In the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, the base sequence of exon 1 of human-derived G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is represented by base numbers 1666 to 2652. The cytosine in the base sequence represented by CpG present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, particularly the cytosine in CpG present in the region where CpG is densely present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, In cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells, a high methylation frequency (ie, hypermethylation state) is exhibited. More specifically, as cytosine with high methylation frequency in pancreatic cancer cells, for example, in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542, 1560, 1564 , 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613, 1620, etc.

  The “restriction enzyme capable of distinguishing the presence or absence of cytosine methylation” (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme) used in the method means that a recognition sequence containing methylated cytosine is not digested. Means a restriction enzyme capable of digesting a recognition sequence containing unmethylated cytosine. When the cytosine contained in the recognition sequence is methylated, the DNA is not cleaved by the action of a methylation sensitive restriction enzyme, whereas the cytosine contained in the recognition sequence is not methylated When the methylation sensitive restriction enzyme is allowed to act, the DNA is cleaved. Specific examples of the methylation-sensitive enzyme include HpaII, BstUI, NarI, SacII and the like.

As a method for examining the presence or absence of digestion with the restriction enzyme, for example, the DNA is used as a template, the cytosine to be analyzed is included in the recognition sequence, and the DNA that does not contain the restriction enzyme recognition sequence other than the recognition sequence is amplified. There can be mentioned a method in which PCR is performed using possible primer pairs and the presence or absence of DNA amplification (amplification product) is examined. When cytosine to be analyzed is methylated, an amplification product is obtained. On the other hand, when the cytosine to be analyzed is not methylated, an amplification product cannot be obtained. Thus, by comparing the amounts of amplified DNA, the frequency of cytosine methylation to be analyzed can be measured. When quantification is required, high-accuracy quantification is possible by detecting PCR reaction products in real time and performing kinetic analysis, for example, to detect even a slight difference of about twice the gene amount. The amount of each product can also be compared using real-time PCR, which is a PCR method. Examples of a method for performing real-time PCR include a method using a probe such as a template-dependent nucleic acid polymerase probe or a method using an intercalator such as Cyber Green. Equipment and kits for real-time PCR are already commercially available.
For example, in the case of cytosine represented by base numbers 694, 1374, 1382, 1754, 1766, 1859, 2221 in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, the cytosine is included in the recognition sequence of NarI, and the above method Thus, the methylation frequency of the cytosine can be measured.

  In addition, as another method for examining the presence or absence of digestion with the restriction enzyme, for example, G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is applied to DNA subjected to the action of a methylation sensitive restriction enzyme containing cytosine to be analyzed in the recognition sequence. And a method of examining the length of the hybridized DNA by performing Southern hybridization using a DNA derived from the above and not containing the restriction enzyme recognition sequence as a probe. When the cytosine to be analyzed is methylated, longer DNA is detected than when the cytosine is not methylated. By comparing the amount of detected long DNA and the amount of short DNA, the frequency of cytosine methylation to be analyzed can be measured.

Using the various methods as described above, the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene contained in the mammal-derived specimen is measured. The measured methylation frequency and the methylation frequency (control) of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene contained in a sample derived from a healthy mammal that can be diagnosed as having no cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells. In comparison, the degree of canceration of the specimen is determined based on the difference obtained by the comparison. If the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene contained in the mammal-derived specimen is higher than that of the control (if the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene is in a highly methylated state compared to the control). It can be determined that the degree of canceration of the specimen is high in comparison with the control.
Here, the “degree of canceration” is generally the same as the meaning used in this field, and specifically, for example, when the mammal-derived specimen is a cell, it means the malignancy of the cell. For example, when the mammal-derived specimen is a tissue, it means the abundance of cancer cells in the tissue.

  The primer or probe that can be used in various methods for measuring the methylation frequency of the G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene in the evaluation method of the present invention is useful as a reagent for a kit for detecting cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells. . The present invention is a kit for detecting cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells containing these primers or probes as reagents, and detection of cancer cells such as pancreatic cancer cells in which these primers or probes are immobilized on a carrier. The scope of the rights of the evaluation method of the present invention includes, of course, use in the form of the detection kit or the detection chip as described above using the substantial principle of the method. It is a waste.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 (Confirmation test of methylation status of G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene in pancreatic cancer cell line)
7 human pancreatic cancer cell lines [BXPc3, HPAF-II, Capan-2, MiaPaCa-2, Hs766T, PANC-1 and HPAC (all manufactured by ATCC)] are described in the catalog of ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) After culturing in a dedicated medium for each cell line until subconfluent, about 1 × 10 ⁷ cells were collected. Two immortalized (normal) pancreatic ductal epithelial cell lines (HPDE-4 / E6E7 and HPDE6-E6E7c7) obtained by a general immortalization method [Am. J. Pathol., 148,1763-1770 (1996)] [These are preserved and managed by Dr. Tsao (Ontario Cancer Institute and Department of Pathology, Unversity of Toronto) and can be transferred from the investigator]. The final concentration of 50 U / mL penicillin and After culturing until Keratinocyte-SFM, liquid (manufactured by Invitrogen) supplemented with 50 ug / mL streptomycin as a medium until subconfluent, about 1 × 10 ⁷ cells were collected. A 10-fold volume of SEDTA buffer [10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 10 mM EDTA (pH 8.0), 100 mM NaCl]] was added to the collected cells, and this was homogenized. After adding proteinase K (Sigma) to 500 μg / ml and sodium dodecyl sulfate to 1% (w / v) to the obtained mixture, it was shaken at 55 ° C. for about 16 hours. After completion of the shaking, the mixture was extracted with phenol [saturated with 1M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)] and chloroform. The aqueous layer was recovered, and NaCl was added to this to 0.5 N, followed by ethanol precipitation to recover the precipitate. The recovered precipitate was dissolved in TE buffer (10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0), and RNase A (Sigma) was added to this so as to be 40 μg / ml, followed by incubation at 37 ° C. for 1 hour. The incubated mixture was extracted with phenol / chloroform. The aqueous layer was collected, and NaCl was added to this to 0.5 N, followed by ethanol precipitation to collect the precipitate (genomic DNA). The collected precipitate was rinsed with 70% ethanol to obtain genomic DNA.
The obtained genomic DNA was digested with the restriction enzyme BamHI, and then Clark et al., Nucl. Acids. Res., 22, 2990-2997, 1994; Herman et al., Pro. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 9821-9826, 1996 The sodium bisulfite treatment was performed according to the method described in 1996. That is, restriction enzyme-treated genomic DNA (about 500 ng) was dissolved in distilled water to prepare 20 μl of genomic DNA solution. After adding about 1 μl of 6M sodium hydroxide (final concentration: about 0.3M), The mixture was incubated at 37 ° C. for 15 minutes. To this mixture, 0.6 mM hydroquinone (Sigma) was added to a final concentration of 0.5 mM, and sodium bisulfite (Sigma) was added to a final concentration of 3.1 M. Then, this was added at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds and at 50 ° C. for 15 minutes for one cycle. Insulation was performed for 15 cycles. DNA was purified from the incubated solution using Wizard DNA clean-up system (Promega). The purified DNA was dissolved in 50 μl of TE buffer, and sodium hydroxide was added to this to a final concentration of 0.3 M, and then the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Subsequently, precipitation (DNA) was collect | recovered by carrying out ethanol precipitation of the left-over mixture. The collected precipitate was suspended in 20 μl of TE buffer.

Using the obtained DNA as a template, PCR was performed using unmethylated specific primers U1 and U2 shown below or methylated specific primers M1 and M2. When the unmethylated specific primers U1 and U2 are used, 145 bp DNA corresponding to the base sequence after the bisulfite treatment of base numbers 1478 to 1622 of the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 is amplified, When methylation-specific primers M1 and M2 are used, 144 bp DNA corresponding to the base sequence after the bisulfite treatment of base numbers 1480 to 1623 shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 is amplified.
<Unmethylated specific primer>
U1: 5'-TTTGTGGTGATATTGGGTT-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 2)
U2: 5'-ACACCCTACAAAACTCAACA-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 3)
<Methylation specific primer>
M1: 5′-CGCGGCGATATTGGGTC-3 ′ (SEQ ID NO: 4)
M2: 5'-AACGCCCTACGAAACTCAACG-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 5)
In order to confirm the specificity of the methylation-specific primer and the non-methylation-specific primer, first, genomic DNA (from an immortalized (normal) pancreatic duct epithelial cell line (HPDE-4 / E6E7) by a conventional method ( 1) was extracted, and a part of this was treated with methylase SssI (NEB) to methylate all 5′-CG-3 ′ of genomic DNA (2). These (1) and (2) were also subjected to methylation-specific PCR and unmethylation-specific PCR.

As a PCR reaction solution, 25 ng of DNA as a template, 1 μl of the above primer solution of 20 pmol / μl, 2.5 μl of each 2 mM dNTP, 10 × buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 500 mM KCl , 20 mM MgCl ₂ ) and 2.5 μl of thermostable DNA polymerase 5 U / μl were mixed together, and sterilized ultrapure water was added thereto to make a liquid volume of 25 μl. When the unmethylated specific primer is used, the reaction solution is kept at 95 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds, then at 57 ° C. for 30 seconds, and further at 72 ° C. for 30 seconds. PCR was performed under the condition that the incubation was performed for 32 cycles. When the above methylation-specific primer is used, the reaction solution is kept at 95 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds, then at 62 ° C. for 30 seconds, and further at 72 ° C. for 30 minutes. PCR was performed under the condition of performing heat retention for 32 cycles with 1 cycle per second. In either case, after PCR, the PCR reaction solution containing the amplification product was subjected to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The results are shown in FIG. In the case of immortalized (normal) pancreatic ductal epithelial cell lines derived from humans (HPDE-4 / E6E7 and HPDE6-E6E7c), when an unmethylated specific primer is used (lane U), the amplified DNA band is Amplified DNA bands were not detected when methylation-specific primers were used (lane M). Therefore, in the case of human-derived immortalized (normal) pancreatic duct epithelial cell lines (HPDE-4 / E6E7 and HPDE6-E6E7c), at least base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496 of the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, It was determined that the cytosines shown at 1603, 1613 and 1620, respectively, were not methylated. In the case of 6 pancreatic cancer cell lines other than PANC-1 (BXPc3, HPAF-II, Capan-2, MiaPaCa-2, Hs766T and HPAC), using unmethylated specific primers (lane U) No amplified DNA band was detected, and when a methylation specific primer was used (lane M), an amplified DNA band was observed. Therefore, under these conditions, in these pancreatic cancer cell lines, the cytosine represented by base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1603, 1613 and 1620 of the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 is methylated, respectively. It was judged. For PANC-1, a DNA band was observed when an unmethylated primer was used (lane U) and when a methylated primer was used (lane M). Therefore, for PANC-1, the cytosine represented by nucleotide numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1603, 1613, and 1620 of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 was determined to be partially methylated by canceration. It was done.

Example 2 (Confirmation test of methylation status of G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene in pancreatic cancer tissue)
Human-derived pancreatic cancer tissue and normal pancreatic tissue around it [obtained by obtaining informed consent from the patient] Each of 12 specimens (Case1 to Case12), SEDTA buffer [10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 10 mM EDTA ( After adding 10 times volume of pH 8.0), 100 mM NaCl], this was homogenized. After adding proteinase K (Sigma) to 500 μg / ml and sodium dodecyl sulfate to 1% (w / v) to the obtained mixture, it was shaken at 55 ° C. for about 16 hours. After completion of the shaking, the mixture was extracted with phenol [saturated with 1M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)] and chloroform. The aqueous layer was recovered, and NaCl was added to this to 0.5 N, followed by ethanol precipitation to recover the precipitate. The recovered precipitate was dissolved in TE buffer (10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0), and RNase A (Sigma) was added to this so as to be 40 μg / ml, followed by incubation at 37 ° C. for 1 hour. The incubated mixture was extracted with phenol / chloroform. The aqueous layer was collected, and NaCl was added to this to 0.5 N, followed by ethanol precipitation to collect the precipitate (genomic DNA). The collected precipitate was rinsed with 70% ethanol to obtain genomic DNA.
The obtained genomic DNA was digested with the restriction enzyme BamHI, and then Clark et al., Nucl. Acids. Res., 22, 2990-2997, 1994; Herman et al., Pro. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 9821-9826, 1996 The sodium bisulfite treatment was performed according to the method described in 1996. That is, restriction enzyme-treated genomic DNA (about 500 ng) was dissolved in distilled water to prepare 20 μl of genomic DNA solution. After adding about 1 μl of 6M sodium hydroxide (final concentration: about 0.3M), The mixture was incubated at 37 ° C. for 15 minutes. To this mixture, 0.6 mM hydroquinone (Sigma) was added to a final concentration of 0.5 mM, and sodium bisulfite (Sigma) was added to a final concentration of 3.1 M. Then, this was added at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds and at 50 ° C. for 15 minutes for one cycle. Insulation was performed for 15 cycles. DNA was purified from the incubated solution using Wizard DNA clean-up system (Promega). The purified DNA was dissolved in 50 μl of TE buffer, and sodium hydroxide was added to this to a final concentration of 0.3 M, and then the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Subsequently, precipitation (DNA) was collect | recovered by carrying out ethanol precipitation of the left-over mixture. The collected precipitate was suspended in 20 μl of TE buffer.

Using the obtained DNA as a template, PCR was performed using unmethylated specific primers U1 and U2 shown below or methylated specific primers M1 and M2. When the unmethylated specific primers U1 and U2 are used, 145 bp DNA corresponding to the base sequence after the bisulfite treatment of base numbers 1478 to 1622 of the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 is amplified, When methylation-specific primers M1 and M2 are used, 144 bp DNA corresponding to the base sequence after the bisulfite treatment of base numbers 1480 to 1623 shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 is amplified.
<Unmethylated specific primer>
U1: 5'-TTTGTGGTGATATTGGGTT-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 2)
U2: 5'-ACACCCTACAAAACTCAACA-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 3)
<Methylation specific primer>
M1: 5′-CGCGGCGATATTGGGTC-3 ′ (SEQ ID NO: 4)
M2: 5'-AACGCCCTACGAAACTCAACG-3 '(SEQ ID NO: 5)
As described in Example 1, the specificity of the methylation-specific primer and the non-methylation-specific primer was determined using the genomic DNA (1) of an immortalized (normal) pancreatic duct epithelial cell line (HPDE-4 / E6E7) and A part of this was treated with methylase SssI (NEB) and confirmed in genomic DNA (2).

As a PCR reaction solution, 25 ng of DNA as a template, 1 μl of the above primer solution of 20 pmol / μl, 2.5 μl of each 2 mM dNTP, 10 × buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 500 mM KCl , 20 mM MgCl ₂ ) and 2.5 μl of thermostable DNA polymerase 5 U / μl were mixed together, and sterilized ultrapure water was added thereto to make a liquid volume of 25 μl. When the unmethylated specific primer is used, the reaction solution is kept at 95 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds, then at 57 ° C. for 30 seconds, and further at 72 ° C. for 30 seconds. PCR was performed under the condition that the incubation was performed for 32 cycles. When the above methylation-specific primer is used, the reaction solution is kept at 95 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 95 ° C. for 30 seconds, then at 62 ° C. for 30 seconds, and further at 72 ° C. for 30 minutes. PCR was performed under the condition of performing heat retention for 32 cycles with 1 cycle per second. In either case, after PCR, the PCR reaction solution containing the amplification product was subjected to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The results are shown in FIG. In the case of 12 normal human pancreatic tissues (Case 1 to Case 12 Normal), when an unmethylated specific primer was used (lane U), an amplified DNA band was observed, and the methylation specific primer When using (lane M), no amplified DNA band was detected. Therefore, in the case of normal pancreatic tissue derived from human, at least cytosine represented by each of base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1603, 1613 and 1620 of the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 is not methylated. It was judged. In 10 of 12 pancreatic cancer tissues, in addition to the DNA band amplified when using unmethylated specific primers (lane U), amplified when using methylated specific primers (lane M) The observed DNA band was observed. Therefore, under the above conditions, at least cytosine represented by base numbers 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1603, 1613 and 1620 of the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 is methylated due to canceration of a part of the tissue. It was judged that

  According to the present invention, a method for evaluating the degree of canceration of a mammal-derived specimen can be provided.

Immortalized (normal) pancreatic ductal epithelial cell lines (HPDE-4 / E6E7 and HPDE6-E6E7c7) and 7 pancreatic cancer cell lines (BXPc3, HPAF-II, Capan-2, MiaPaCa-2, Hs766T, PANC-1 And HPAC), and PCR was performed using genomic DNA treated with sodium bisulfite as templates, and the PCR reaction solution after PCR was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The names of the cells used are shown above. The figure described as HPDE4 / SssI shows DNA obtained by treating the genomic DNA of HPDE-4 / E6E7 with methylase SssI. Lane U, PCR PCR reaction solution using unmethylated specific primer; Lane M, PCR PCR reaction solution using unmethylated specific primer. Human-derived pancreatic cancer tissue and surrounding normal pancreatic tissue [obtained by obtaining informed consent from a patient] PCR was performed using genomic DNA prepared from each of 12 specimens and treated with sodium bisulfite as a template. It is the figure which showed the result of having analyzed the subsequent PCR reaction liquid by agarose gel electrophoresis. Case 1 to Case 12 showed specimens. Cancer shows data of pancreatic cancer tissue, and Normal shows data of surrounding normal pancreatic tissue. Lane U, PCR PCR reaction solution using unmethylated specific primer; Lane M, PCR PCR reaction solution using unmethylated specific primer.

SEQ ID NO: 2
Oligonucleotide primer designed for PCR SEQ ID NO: 3
Oligonucleotide primer designed for PCR SEQ ID NO: 4
Oligonucleotide primer designed for PCR SEQ ID NO: 5
Oligonucleotide primer designed for PCR SEQ ID NO: 6
Oligonucleotide primer designed for PCR SEQ ID NO: 7
Oligonucleotide primer designed for PCR SEQ ID NO: 8
Oligonucleotide designed for probe SEQ ID NO: 9
Oligonucleotide designed for probe SEQ ID NO: 10
Oligonucleotide designed for probe SEQ ID NO: 11
Oligonucleotides designed for probes

Claims (8)

A method for assessing the presence of cancer cells in test body from the pancreas of mammals,
(1) comparing a first step of measuring the methylation frequency with a G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene contained in the specimen from the pancreas of mammals, and (2) and said measured methylation frequency, and a control evaluation method characterized by having a second step of determining the presence of cancer cells in the test body based on a difference obtained by.   2. The evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the specimen derived from the pancreas of a mammal is a cell.   The evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the specimen derived from the pancreas of a mammal is a tissue.   The methylation frequency of a cytosine in the nucleotide sequence represented by one or more 5'-CG-3 'existing in the nucleotide sequence in the promoter region, untranslated region or translated region of the gene The evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein:   The methylation frequency of a gene is the methylation frequency of cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more 5′-CG-3 ′ present in the base sequence in the promoter region of the gene The evaluation method according to claim 1.   The methylation frequency of a gene is the methylation frequency of cytosine in the base sequence represented by one or more 5′-CG-3 ′ present in the base sequence in the untranslated region or translated region of the gene. The evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein:   Among the cytosines in the base sequence represented by 5′-CG-3 ′ present in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in the methylation frequency of the gene, Base number 1480, 1482, 1485, 1496, 1513, 1526, 1542, 1560, 1564, 1568, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1603, 1613 or 1620 The evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the methylation frequency is.   Use of methylated G protein-coupled receptor 7 gene as a marker for pancreatic cancer.

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