Methylation status of the p15, p16 and MGMT promoter genes in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

p15(INK4b), p16(INK4a) and O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene hypermethylation was studied in 22 patients with primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) inactivation is present in early and advanced disease and seems to be independent of disease stage. MGMT inactivation may play a pathogenetic role in a subset of CTCL.