Methylation of homeobox genes is a frequent and early epigenetic event in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Aberrant methylation of CpG islands is a hallmark of cancer and occurs at an early stage in breast tumorigenesis. However, its impact on tumor development is not fully determined, and its potential as a diagnostic biomarker remains to be validated. Methylation profiling of invasive breast carcinoma has been largely explored. Conversely, very little and sparse information is available on early-stage breast cancer. To gain insight into the epigenetic switches that may promote and/or contribute to the initial neoplastic events during breast carcinogenesis, we have analyzed the DNA methylation profile of ductal carcinoma in situ, a premalignant breast lesion with a great potential to progress toward invasive carcinoma.

Methods

We have utilized a comprehensive and se

SUBMITTER: Tommasi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2687719 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature