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Aberrant DNA Methylation in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Biological and Clinical Implications

Lehang Lin1, Xu Cheng1, Dong Yin1

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Frontiers in Oncology
|November 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Aberrant DNA methylation is a key epigenetic change in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Understanding these DNA methylation patterns is crucial for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for ESCC.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics and Cancer Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Genomic Medicine

Background:

  • Epigenetic abnormalities, particularly aberrant DNA methylation, are hallmarks of cancer, cooperating with genetic alterations.
  • Aberrant DNA methylation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) includes global hypomethylation and locus-specific hypermethylation.
  • These alterations impact genes critical for cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, and cancer signaling pathways in ESCC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize current knowledge on DNA methylation in ESCC.
  • To explore the clinical significance of DNA methylation in ESCC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
  • To highlight the role of DNA methylation in ESCC pathogenesis and heterogeneity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on DNA methylation patterns in ESCC.
  • Analysis of the impact of DNA methylation on gene expression and function in ESCC.
  • Evaluation of DNA methylation as potential biomarkers for ESCC.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant DNA methylation is prevalent in ESCC, affecting key cancer-related genes.
  • Altered methylation patterns are observed in both ESCC tumors and precursor lesions.
  • DNA methylation alterations contribute to ESCC heterogeneity and may serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers.

Conclusions:

  • DNA methylation is a critical factor in ESCC development and progression.
  • Characterizing the ESCC methylome offers insights into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
  • Aberrant DNA methylation holds promise as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and predicting chemosensitivity in ESCC.
Keywords:
aberrant DNA methylationclinical significanceesophageal squamous cell carcinomaglobal DNA hypomethylationheterogeneitypromoter hypermethylation

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