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Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors
Published on: August 5, 2022
DNA methylation events in transcription factors and gene expression changes in colon cancer
Anna Díez-Villanueva1,2,3, Rebeca Sanz-Pamplona1,2,3, Robert Carreras-Torres1,2,3
1Unit of Biomarkers & Susceptibility, Oncology Data Analytics Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), 08908 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
Aim: Gain insight about the role of DNA methylation in the malignant growth of colon cancer. Patients & methods: Methylation and gene expression from 90 adjacent-tumor paired tissues and 48 healthy tissues were analyzed. Tumor genes whose change in expression was explained by changes in methylation were identified using linear models adjusted for tumor stromal content. Results: No differences in methylation were found between adjacent and healthy tissues, but clear differences were found between adjacent and tumor samples. We identified hypermethylated CpG islands located in promoter regions that drive differential gene expression of transcription factors and their target genes. Conclusion: Changes in methylation of a few genes provoke important changes in gene expression, by expanding the signal through transcription activation/repression.
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