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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Purification of H3 and H4 Histone Proteins and the Quantification of Acetylated Histone Marks in Cells and Brain Tissue
Published on: November 30, 2018
Plasma Histone H4 and H4K20 Trimethylation Levels Differ Between Colon Cancer and Precancerous Polyps
Emre Özgür1, Metin Keskin2, Ebru E Yörüker1
1Department of Basic Oncology at Oncology Institute, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Background/Aim:
No blood-based biomarkers are available to differentiate between colonic tumors and precancerous polyps. Previously we demonstrated levels of trimethylated H4K20 (H4K20me3) to be lower in blood plasma from patients with colon cancer than those from cancer-free individuals. Herein, we added individuals with precancerous polyps for the first time in order to analyze and investigate the usefulness of plasma H4K20me3 and histone H4 to discriminate colon tumors from precancerous polyps.
Materials And Methods:
The study included a cohort of 185 individuals undergoing colonoscopy. H4K20me3 and histone H4, measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-like assay in plasma, were analyzed according to colonoscopy findings.
Results:
Levels of H4K20me3 were lower in patients with colon cancer than in individuals with normal colonoscopy and those with precancerous polyps (p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively). In contrast, highest quantities of histone H4 were measured in those with colon cancer compared to other groups (all p<0.01).
Conclusion:
Beside H4K20me3, plasma histone H4 is a useful marker to discriminate colonic tumors from precancerous polyps and other conditions.
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