Promoter DNA methylation is associated with KLF11 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer.

As a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-inducible gene, the expression of Krüppel-like transcription factor 11 (KLF11) is altered in several types of cancer. In the current study, through using human 9K CpG island array, KLF11 was identified as one of hypermethylated genes in RAS-transformed ovarian T29H cells. Methylation of the KLF11 promoter was also observed in ovarian cancer tissue samples accompanied by significantly reduced KLF11 gene expression. Interestingly, the expression of SMAD2, SMAD3, and SMAD7 genes was reduced in the tumour, whilst no change was found in TGF-β expression. Our data suggest a relationship between promoter DNA methylation and KLF11 gene expression in ovarian cancer tumorigenesis.