The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and relevance of promoter methylation of the tumor suppressor DAPK-1, APAF-1 () and SPARC in relation to different pathological stages and histological grades of tumor progression that might act as possible independent prognostic factor in the susceptibility towards renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in North Indian population.
Our findings indicate that promoter hypermethylation of APAF-1 and DAPK-1 is a marker of aggressive renal cell carcinoma and provides independent prognostic information on disease outcome.
In multivariate analysis, APAF-1 and DAPK-1 methylation levels were independent prognostic markers for metastatic disease and death from renal cell carcinoma.