Viral Status Predicts the Patterns of Genome Methylation and Decitabine Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that is classified as Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive (virus positive [VP]) or Merkel cell polyomavirus-negative (virus negative [VN]). Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, can alter gene expression and influence cancer progression. However, patterns of DNA methylation and the therapeutic efficacy of hypomethylating agents have not been fully explored in MCC. We characterized genome-wide DNA methylation in 16 MCC cell lines from both molecular subclasses in comparison with other cancer types and found that the overall profile of MCC is similar to that of small-cell lung carcinoma. Comparison of VP MCC with VN MCC revealed 2,260 differentially methylated positions. The hypomethylating agent decitabine

SUBMITTER: Harms PW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8860850 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature