Quantitative detection of methylated SOCS-1, a tumor suppressor gene, by a modified protocol of quantitative real time methylation-specific PCR using SYBR green and its use in early gastric cancer detection

Abstract

Although methylation-specific PCR (MSP) is a sensitive technique in the detection of DNA hypermethylation, it is not quantitative. Here we described a modified PCR protocol to quantify methylated gene by real time MSP using SYBR green, which involves an additional PCR step after the 72 °C extension step. This modified protocol is also useful in the quantitative detection of methylated gene in serum samples of gastric cancer patients.