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JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2000 92(10):789-790; doi:10.1093/jnci/92.10.789
© 2000 by Oxford University Press
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Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 92, No. 10, 789-790, May 17, 2000
© 2000 Oxford University Press

NEWS

DNA Methylation: What Is Its Role in Carcinogenesis?

Nancy Volkers

DNA methylation, the driving force behind genetic imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation, is also crucial during the earliest stages of embryogenesis. But over the past 20 years, research has focused on DNA methylation gone awry; it seems that both global hypomethylation of the genome and hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes may play roles in carcinogenesis.

Too Little

Hypomethylation in cancer was first seen in the early 1980s by Melanie Ehrlich, Ph.D., now professor at Tulane University’s Cancer Center, New Orleans.

"The cancers were often deficient in global DNA methylation levels, compared with the range [of methylation] found in normal human tissues," she said.

One of hypomethylation’s effects, said Ehrlich, is to increase karyotypic instability, a phenomenon seen in ICF syndrome (immunodeficiency, centromeric . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Too Much

Role of Methyltransferase

Can’t See the Forest for the CH3s


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