DNA methylation patterns in cancer: novel prognostic indicators?

摘要: DNA methylation is an epigenetic phenomenon influencing the normal function of and its scaffolding proteins. Especially in cancer, aberrant patterns may contribute to disease process by induction point mutations, activation inactive genes through hypomethylation promoters, transcriptional inactivation a complex interplay with histone acetylation other inhibitory mechanisms. Aberrant have been evaluated as tools management patients cancer. The predictive value, therapeutic manipulation prognostic significance aberrantly methylated gene loci tested hematological well solid neoplasias adults children. A seemingly insurmountable wealth data has generated, however, on clinical associations are sometimes presented almost incautious fashion. Nevertheless, some like p15INK4B myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) p16INK4A lung cancer subtypes shown confer certain prognosis. In selected cases confirmed independent studies. Assays developed that can be used any laboratory (e.g. methylation-specific PCR) for rapid affordable screening tumors methylation. study successfully entered arena relevant applications. Importantly, does not only hold potential being 'just another' biomarker, but also, it reverted chemically, holds great promise exploitation.