Stability of colon stem cell methylation after neo-adjuvant therapy in a patient with attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis

摘要: Methylation at certain human CpG rich sequences increases with age. The mechanisms underlying such age-related changes are unclear, but methylation may accumulate slowly in a clock-like manner from birth and record lifetime numbers of stem cell divisions. Alternatively, fluctuate response to environmental stimuli. relative stability patterns be inferred through serial observations the same colon. A 22 year-old male attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy radiation prior surgery for rectal adenocarcinoma. Colon crypt before after therapy (62 days apart) were essentially identical respect percent diversity. Consistent previous studies, recorded no evidence enhanced colon survival germline mutation (codon 215) proximal cluster region APC. inability significantly alter suggests cells relatively protected transient changes. Age-related appears primarily reflect epigenetic errors that birth. Therefore, life-long histories potentially written within read somatic epigenomes.