Hypomethylation of DNA from benign and malignant human colon neoplasms

Susan E. Goelz, Bert Vogelstein, Stanley R. Hamilton, Andrew P. Feinberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

678 Scopus citations

Abstract

The methylation state of DNA from human colon tissue displaying neoplastic growth was determined by means of restriction endonuclease analysis. When compared to DNA from adjacent normal tissue, DNA from both benign colon polyps and malignant carcinomas was substantially hypomethylated. With the use of probes for growth hormone, γ-globin, α-chorionic gonadotropin, and γ-crystallin, methylation changes were detected in all 23 neoplastic growths examined. Benign polyps were hypomethylated to a degree similar to that in malignant tissue. These results indicate that hypomethylation is a consistent biochemical characteristic of human colonic tumors and is an alteration in the DNA that precedes malignancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-190
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume228
Issue number4696
DOIs
StatePublished - 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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