DNA methylation and genetic instability in colorectal cancer cells

Christoph Lengauer, Kenneth W. Kinzler, Bert Vogelstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

327 Scopus citations

Abstract

Apparent alterations in DNA methylation have been observed in many cancers, but whether such alterations represent a persistent alteration in the normal methylation process is not known. In this study, we report a striking difference in the expression of exogenously introduced retroviral genes in various colorectal cancer cell lines. Extinguished expression was associated with DNA methylation and could be reversed by treatment with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine. A striking correlation between genetic instability and methylation capacity suggested that methylation abnormalities may play a role in chromosome segregation processes in cancer cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2545-2550
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume94
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 18 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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