CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) of colorectal cancer is best characterised by quantitative DNA methylation analysis and prospective cohort studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The concept of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is not universally accepted. Even if specific clinicopathological features have been associated with CIMP, investigators often failed to demonstrate a bimodal distribution of the number of methylated markers, which would suggest CIMP as a distinct subtype of colorectal cancer. Previous studies primarily used methylation specific polymerase chain reaction which might detect biologically insignificant low levels of methylation.

Aim

To demonstrate a distinct genetic profile of CIMP colorectal cancer using quantitative DNA methylation analysis that can distinguish high from low levels of DNA methylation.

Materials and methods

We developed quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (MethyLight) assays a

SUBMITTER: Ogino S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1856352 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature