Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis in Melanoma Reveals the Importance of CpG Methylation in MITF Regulation.

ABSTRACT: The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a key regulator of melanocyte development and a lineage-specific oncogene in melanoma; a highly lethal cancer known for its unpredictable clinical course. MITF is regulated by multiple intracellular signaling pathways, although the exact mechanisms that determine MITF expression and activity remain incompletely understood. In this study, we obtained genome-wide DNA methylation profiles from 50 stage IV melanomas, normal melanocytes, keratinocytes, and dermal fibroblasts and utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas data for experimental validation. By integrating DNA methylation and gene expression data, we found that hypermethylation of MITF and its co-regulated differentiation pathway genes corresponded to decreased gene expression leve

SUBMITTER: Lauss M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4720161 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature