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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors
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Role of DNA methylation in renal cell carcinoma

Niraj Shenoy1, Nishanth Vallumsetla2, Yiyu Zou3

  • 1Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10467, USA. knirajshenoy@gmail.com.

Journal of Hematology & Oncology
|July 23, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are prevalent in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), impacting tumor suppressor genes and predicting adverse prognosis. Epigenetic alterations are crucial in ccRCC development and suggest potential therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Genomics

Background:

  • DNA methylation alterations are hallmarks of cancer, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
  • Previous studies identified promoter hypermethylation silencing tumor suppressor genes (e.g., Wnt, TGF-beta pathway members, APAF-1, KILLIN) in ccRCC.
  • Aberrant hypermethylation has been linked to tumor stage and grade in kidney cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in ccRCC.
  • To determine the prognostic significance of aberrant enhancer hypermethylation in ccRCC.
  • To highlight the role of epigenetic dysregulation in ccRCC pathophysiology and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide methylation profiling of ccRCC samples.
  • Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data for ccRCC cohort.
  • Correlation analysis between methylation patterns, clinical stage, grade, and patient prognosis.

Main Results:

  • Genome-wide studies revealed widespread aberrant hypermethylation in regulatory regions of the kidney genome in ccRCC.
  • Aberrant enhancer hypermethylation was identified as a predictor of adverse prognosis in ccRCC.
  • TCGA analysis confirmed correlation between aberrant hypermethylation and ccRCC stage/grade.

Conclusions:

  • Aberrant DNA hypermethylation, particularly in enhancers, is a significant feature of ccRCC and predicts poor outcomes.
  • Epigenetic dysregulation is integral to ccRCC pathophysiology.
  • Epigenetic modulators represent a promising therapeutic avenue for ccRCC treatment.

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