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Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
Exploring Potential Epigenetic Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer Metastasis
Priyadarshana Ajithkumar1, Sai Shyam Vasantharajan1, Sharon Pattison2
1Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Metastatic progression is a complex, multistep process and the leading cause of cancer mortality. There is growing evidence that emphasises the significance of epigenetic modification, specifically DNA methylation and histone modifications, in influencing colorectal (CRC) metastasis. Epigenetic modifications influence the expression of genes involved in various cellular processes, including the pathways associated with metastasis. These modifications could contribute to metastatic progression by enhancing oncogenes and silencing tumour suppressor genes. Moreover, specific epigenetic alterations enable cancer cells to acquire invasive and metastatic characteristics by altering cell adhesion, migration, and invasion-related pathways. Exploring the involvement of DNA methylation and histone modification is crucial for identifying biomarkers that impact cancer prediction for metastasis in CRC. This review provides a summary of the potential epigenetic biomarkers associated with metastasis in CRC, particularly DNA methylation and histone modifications, and examines the pathways associated with these biomarkers.
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