DNA Hypomethylation Contributes to Genomic Instability and Intestinal Cancer Initiation.

ABSTRACT: Intestinal cancer is a heterogeneous disease driven by genetic mutations and epigenetic changes. Approximately 80% of sporadic colorectal cancers are initiated by mutation and inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, which results in unrestrained intestinal epithelial growth and formation of adenomas. Aberrant DNA methylation promotes cancer progression by the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes via promoter methylation. In addition, global DNA hypomethylation is often seen before the formation of adenomas, suggesting that it contributes to neoplastic transformation. Previous studies employed mice with a hypomorphic mutation in DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), which exhibited constitutive global DNA hypomethylation and decreased tumorigenesis in the Apc(Min/+) mouse mo

SUBMITTER: Sheaffer KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4930698 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature