craig-dnamethylation-2014.pdf (437.44 kB)
DNA methylation biomarkers: cancer and beyond
journal contribution
posted on 2014-09-16, 00:00 authored by Thomas Mikeska, Jeffrey CraigJeffrey CraigBiomarkers are naturally-occurring characteristics by which a particular pathological process or disease can be identified or monitored. They can reflect past environmental exposures, predict disease onset or course, or determine a patient's response to therapy. Epigenetic changes are such characteristics, with most epigenetic biomarkers discovered to date based on the epigenetic mark of DNA methylation. Many tissue types are suitable for the discovery of DNA methylation biomarkers including cell-based samples such as blood and tumor material and cell-free DNA samples such as plasma. DNA methylation biomarkers with diagnostic, prognostic and predictive power are already in clinical trials or in a clinical setting for cancer. Outside cancer, strong evidence that complex disease originates in early life is opening up exciting new avenues for the detection of DNA methylation biomarkers for adverse early life environment and for estimation of future disease risk. However, there are a number of limitations to overcome before such biomarkers reach the clinic. Nevertheless, DNA methylation biomarkers have great potential to contribute to personalized medicine throughout life. We review the current state of play for DNA methylation biomarkers, discuss the barriers that must be crossed on the way to implementation in a clinical setting, and predict their future use for human disease.
History
Journal
GenesVolume
5Issue
3Pagination
821 - 864Publisher
MDPILocation
Basel, SwitzerlandPublisher DOI
Link to full text
ISSN
2073-4425Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2014, The AuthorsUsage metrics
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Keywords
cancerdiabetesobesitysmokingstressautismschizophreniabipolar disorderdepressionenvironmental factorsScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineGenetics & HeredityMGMT PROMOTER METHYLATIONEPIGENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATIONGLUCOCORTICOID-RECEPTOR GENEPOLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTIONDEPENDENT PROBE AMPLIFICATIONSEROTONIN TRANSPORTER GENEPOSITIVE BREAST-CANCERLIPID-LOWERING DRUGSTIME PCR ASSAYCPG-ISLANDSGenetics
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