Open AccessEpigenetic biomarkers of promoter DNA methylation in the new era of cancer treatment
Author(s) -
Yamashita Keishi,
Hosoda Kei,
Nishizawa Nobuyuki,
Katoh Hiroshi,
Watanabe Masahiko
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.13812
Subject(s) - epigenetics , dna methylation , methylation , biology , cpg site , cancer , promoter , cancer epigenetics , gene , gene silencing , cancer research , microrna , cancer biomarkers , genetics , gene expression
Promoter DNA methylation, which occurs on cytosine nucleotides across CpG islands, results in gene silencing and represents a major epigenetic alteration in human cancer. Methylation‐specific PCR can amplify these modifications as markers in cancer cells. In the present work, we rigorously review the published literatures describing DNA methylation in the promoters of critical tumor suppressor genes; detection of promoter DNA methylation in various body fluids permits early detection of cancer cells during perioperative courses of clinical treatment. The latest whole‐genome comprehensive explorations identified excellent epigenetic biomarkers that could be detected at high frequency with high specificity; these biomarkers, which are designated highly relevant methylation genes ( HRMG ), permit the discrimination of tumor tissues from the corresponding normal tissues; these markers are also associated with unique cancer phenotypes, including dismal prognosis. In humans, HRMG include the CDO 1 , GSHR , RASSF 1 and SFRP 1 genes, with these markers permitting discrimination depending on the organs tested. The combination of several HRMG increased the early detection of cancer and exhibited reliable surveillance potential in human body fluids. Cancer clinics using such epigenetic biomarkers are entering a new era of enhanced decision‐making with the potential for improved cancer prognosis.