Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
Pattern of nonspecific (or global) DNA methylation in oral carcinogenesis
Chandrika J Piyathilake1, Walter C Bell, Jennifer Jones
1Department of Nutrition Sciences, Division of Nutritional Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University Station, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. piyathic@uab.edu
Background:
Although alterations in nonspecific (or global) DNA methylation (GDM) in specific cells are known to be involved in the process of lung carcinogenesis, similar associations have not been evaluated in other smoking-related cancers of the head and neck.
Methods:
We evaluated the status of GDM by using monoclonal antibodies specific for 5-methylcytosine (5-mc) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specimens of 48 cigarette smokers who had SCC develop and in 93 age-, race-, and sex-matched smokers who did not.
Results:
Percentages of cells positive for 5-mc immunostaining of DNA of SCC and dysplastic lesions were significantly higher than those of normal oral epithelial cells from cancer subjects and from noncancer subjects. The degree of DNA methylation was unrelated to DNA content.
Conclusions:
The pattern of GDM in oral SCCs is different from that of lung SCCs. The differences in nutrient risk factor profiles that are related to GDM and differential activity of DNA methyltranferases between oral and lung SCCs may explain these observations.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
The Oral Microbiota
Cellular Adaptation IV: Dysplasia and Metaplasia
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...

