Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of references nucleic acids for use in a method of detecting methylated CpG-containing nucleic acids by nucleic acid amplification and preferably melting curve analysis of amplification products.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining breast cancer, a predisposition to breast cancer, or the prognosis of a breast cancer in a subject, said method comprising in a sample from said subject determining the methylation status of at least one gene locus including regulatory sequences of said gene locus, wherein said genelocusis selected from the group consisting of PHOX2B, FLJ3247, GHSR, HOXB13, HTR1B, ONECUT, POU4F, WT1, LHX1, BC008699, BX161496, CA10, NR2E1, SIX6, SLC38A4, TITF, TMTM132D, CRH, NKX2-3 and HMX.

Abstract: A reliable and highly sensitive method is provided for detecting methylation status of CpG-containing nucleic acids by nucleic acid amplification and melting curve analysis of amplification products. The methods and compositions employs a novel design of primers, CpG-containing methylation-independent oligonucleotide primers, wherein both unmethylated and methylated alleles of a CpG-containing nucleic acid can be detected by use of only one set of primers after the CpG-containing nucleic acid has been subjected to cytosine to thymine conversion of unmethylated Cytosine. The method is useful for detection of methylation status in for example cancer genes and other disease related genes, wherein methylation influences gene expression.

Abstract: A reliable and highly sensitive method is provided for detecting methylation status of CpG-containing nucleic acids by nucleic acid amplification and melting curve analysis of amplification products. The methods and compositions employs a novel design of primers. CpG-containing methylation-independent oligonucleotide primers, wherein both unmethylated and methylated alleles of a CpG-containing nucleic acid can be detected by use of only one set of primers after the CpG-containing nucleic acid has been subjected to cytosine to thymine conversion of unmethylated Cytosine. The method is useful for detection of methylation status in for example cancer genes and other disease related genes, wherein methylation influences gene expression.