Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-9-10
pubmed:abstractText
The unique properties of a cancer cell are acquired through a stepwise accumulation of heritable changes in the information content of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. While gain, loss, and mutation of genetic information have long been known to contribute to tumorigenesis, it has been increasingly recognized over the past 5 years that 'epigenetic' mechanisms may play an equally important role. The main epigenetic modification of the human genome is methylation of cytosine residues within the context of the CpG dinucleotide. De novo methylation of 'CpG islands' in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes may lead to transcriptional silencing through a complex process involving histone deacetylation and chromatin condensation, and thus represents a tumorigenic event that is functionally equivalent to genetic changes like mutation and deletion. DNA methylation is interesting from a diagnostic viewpoint because it may be easily detected in DNA released from neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions into serum, urine or sputum, and from a therapeutic viewpoint because epigenetically silenced genes may be reactivated by inhibitors of DNA methylation and/or histone deacetylase. A better understanding of epigenetic mechanisms leading to tumor formation and chemoresistance may eventually improve current cancer treatment regimens and be instructive for a more rational use of anticancer agents.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
D
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0904-2512
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
443-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-11-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Antineoplastic Agents, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Chromatin, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-CpG Islands, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Cytosine, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-DNA, Neoplasm, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-DNA Methylation, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-DNA Modification Methylases, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Gene Expression Regulation, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Gene Silencing, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Genes, Tumor Suppressor, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Histones, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Mutation, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Neoplasms, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Promoter Regions, Genetic, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Protein Biosynthesis, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Proto-Oncogenes, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Transcription, Genetic, pubmed-meshheading:12220350-Tumor Markers, Biological
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
DNA methylation: an epigenetic pathway to cancer and a promising target for anticancer therapy.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't