Open AccessBlood-based DNA Methylation Biomarkers for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer
Author(s) -
Dong Liu,
Hongmei Ren
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of proteomics and bioinformatics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0974-276X
DOI - 10.4172/jpb.1000477
Subject(s) - epigenetics , colorectal cancer , dna methylation , carcinogenesis , colonoscopy , medicine , methylation , cancer , bioinformatics , oncology , cancer research , biology , dna , gene , genetics , gene expression
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early detection of CRC can significantly reduce this mortality rate. Unfortunately, recommended screening modalities, including colonoscopy, are hampered by poor patient acceptance, low sensitivity and high cost. Recent studies have demonstrated that colorectal oncogenesis is a multistep event resulting from the accumulation of a variety of genetic and epigenetic changes in colon epithelial cells, which can be reflected by epigenetic alterations in blood. DNA methylation is the most extensively studied dysregulated epigenetic mechanism in CRC. In this review, we focus on current knowledge on DNA methylation as potential blood-based biomarkers for early detection of CRC.