THE ROLE OF DNA METHYLATION IN CANCER GENETICS AND EPIGENETICS
The past few years have seen a wider acceptance of a role for DNA methylation in cancer. This can be attributed to three developments. First, the documentation of the over-representation of mutations at CpG dinucleotides has convincingly implicated DNA methylation in the generation of oncogenic poin...
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Published in: | Annual review of genetics 1996-01, Vol.30 (1), p.441-464 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The past few years have seen a wider acceptance of a role for DNA
methylation in cancer. This can be attributed to three developments. First, the
documentation of the over-representation of mutations at CpG dinucleotides has
convincingly implicated DNA methylation in the generation of oncogenic point
mutations. The second important advance has been the demonstration of
epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes by DNA methylation. The third
development has been the utilization of experimental methods to manipulate DNA
methylation levels. These studies demonstrate that DNA methylation changes in
cancer cells are not mere by-products of malignant transformation, but can play
an instrumental role in the cancer process. It seems clear that DNA methylation
plays a variety of roles in different cancer types and probably at different
stages of oncogenesis. DNA methylation is intricately involved in a wide
diversity of cellular processes. Likewise, it appears to exert its influence on
the cancer process through a diverse array of mechanisms. It is our task not
only to identify these mechanisms, but to determine their relative importance
for each stage and type of cancer. Our hope then will be to translate that
knowledge into clinical applications. |
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ISSN: | 0066-4197 1545-2948 |
DOI: | 10.1146/annurev.genet.30.1.441 |