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 has continuously increased in recent decades all over the world. Thyroid cancer in Iran is the seventh most common cancer in women and the 14th in men and the 11th most common cancer in both genders. The study on the methylation status of RASSF1A gene promoter has shown that this gene is methylated in 35% of benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene use for the differentiation of benign tumors from malignant of thyroid gland. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of DNA methylation of RASSF1A gene in the differential diagnosis of benign tumors from papillary thyroid carcinoma.160 samples of patients with malignant thyroid tumors (80 samples) and benign thyroid (80 samples) were entered into this study from all patients referring to Ahwaz medical centers. The Hypermethylation of the gene after DNA extraction was done by COBRA method. Finally, for calculating sensitivity and specificity of the two tests were done by epidemiological calculations.The sensitivity and specificity of Hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene test were 91.25% and 15% respectively.Hypermethylation of the promoter of the RASSF1A gene as a diagnosis test is more sensitive to differential diagnosis of benign tumors from papillary thyroid carcinoma.