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Updated: May 29, 2026
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Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
A DNA methylation microarray-based study identifies ERG as a gene commonly methylated in prostate cancer
Jacob Schwartzman1, Solange Mongoue-Tchokote, Angela Gibbs
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Epigenetics
|September 28, 2011
Summary
DNA methylation is common in prostate cancer, particularly in the ERG gene. This study used bead arrays to identify novel methylated genes, potentially improving prostate cancer detection.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- DNA methylation in promoter regions is a frequent occurrence in prostate cancer.
- Previous studies examined limited gene sets, necessitating a broader investigation.
- Prostate cancer is a leading cancer affecting men globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically quantify DNA methylation across a large gene set in prostate cancer.
- To identify novel genes with promoter DNA methylation relevant to prostate cancer.
- To assess the potential of ERG gene methylation as a biomarker for prostate cancer detection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic quantification of DNA methylation at 1505 CpG dinucleotides across 807 genes.
- Analysis of 78 prostate cancer and 3 normal prostate tissue samples using bead arrays.
- Validation of ERG gene methylation in an independent patient cohort.
Main Results:
- ERG gene promoter methylation was identified in 74% of prostate cancer specimens, and 57% in an independent cohort, confirming it as a common and cancer-specific event.
- Bead arrays proved effective for high-throughput discovery of novel methylated genes.
- ERG promoter methylation was associated with general hypermethylation in tumors and repressive chromatin marks.
Conclusions:
- ERG gene promoter DNA methylation is a prevalent and cancer-specific event in prostate cancer.
- High-throughput methods like bead arrays can identify novel epigenetic biomarkers.
- Measuring ERG methylation may enhance the accuracy of prostate cancer detection.
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