Ischemia dysregulates DNA methyltransferases and p16INK4a methylation in human colorectal cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic modifications are involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. Expression patterns and activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are strictly controlled in normal cells, however, regulation of these enzymes is lost in cancer cells due to unknown reasons. Cancer therapies which target DNMTs are promising treatments of hematologic cancers, but they lack effectiveness in solid tumors. Solid tumors exhibit areas of hypoxia and hypoglycaemia due to their irregular and dysfunctional vasculature, and we previously showed that hypoxia reduces global DNA methylation. Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells (HCT116 and 379.2; p53+/+ and p53-/-, respectively) were subjected to ischemia (hypoxia and hypoglycaemia) in vitro, and levels of DNMTs were assessed. We found a significant decrea

SUBMITTER: Skowronski K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3322492 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature