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Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
07:50

Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer

Published on: September 18, 2020

Aberrant CpG island hypermethylation of multiple genes in colorectal neoplasia

Sun Lee1, Kyu Sang Hwang, Hyeon Joo Lee

  • 1Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, Korea.

Laboratory Investigation; a Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology
|May 4, 2004
PubMed

Insights

CpG island hypermethylation is an early event in colorectal cancer development, with increasing gene methylation observed from normal tissue to adenoma and carcinoma. This epigenetic silencing is more prevalent in proximal colon cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cancer epigenetics
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • CpG island hypermethylation silences tumor suppressor genes in colorectal cancer.
  • Limited data exists on concurrent methylation of multiple genes in colorectal cancer and precursor lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate concurrent methylation profiles of 12 genes during colorectal carcinogenesis.
  • To analyze methylation changes in normal colon, adenoma, and carcinoma.

Main Methods:

  • Methylation-specific PCR was used to analyze 12 specific genes.
  • Samples included normal colon (n=24), colon adenoma (n=95), and colorectal cancer (n=149).

Main Results:

  • The average number of methylated genes increased stepwise from normal (0.12) to adenoma (1.8) to cancer (3.0).
  • All 12 genes showed methylation in cancer; 11 genes (except GSTP1) in adenoma; only APC in normal colon.
  • Hypermethylation was more frequent in proximal colon cancer and adenoma compared to distal counterparts.

Conclusions:

  • Concurrent CpG island methylation is an early and frequent event in colorectal carcinogenesis.
  • CpG island methylation appears more critical in proximal than distal colon cancer development.

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