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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

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

DNA methylation and cancer pathways in gastrointestinal tumors

Hiromu Suzuki1, Takashi Tokino, Yasuhisa Shinomura

  • 1First department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Japan.

Pharmacogenomics
|December 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cancer involves genetic and epigenetic changes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, silences tumor suppressor genes, offering potential markers for cancer risk assessment, early detection, and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer develops from accumulated genetic and epigenetic alterations.
  • Epigenetic gene silencing via DNA methylation is a key mechanism inactivating tumor suppressors.
  • DNA methylation impacts signaling pathways in gastrointestinal cancers by silencing critical genes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the role of DNA methylation in cancer development.
  • To emphasize DNA methylation as an alternative to genetic mutations for tumor suppressor inactivation.
  • To explore the potential of DNA methylation sites as cancer biomarkers.

Main Methods:

  • Review of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in cancer.
  • Analysis of DNA methylation patterns in gastrointestinal cancers.
  • Identification of silenced genes, including Wnt antagonists, Ras effectors, and p53 targets.
  • Examination of microRNA gene methylation in cancer.

Main Results:

  • DNA methylation frequently inactivates tumor suppressor genes.
  • Aberrant DNA methylation affects key signaling pathways in gastrointestinal cancers.
  • Methylation of a p53 target microRNA gene has been observed.
  • The list of aberrantly methylated genes in cancer is expanding.

Conclusions:

  • DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic mechanism in cancer.
  • Aberrantly methylated sites represent promising biomarkers for cancer.
  • DNA methylation targets hold potential for cancer risk assessment, early detection, and therapeutic strategies.

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