DNA methyltransferases in cancer development, treatment and prognosis / 国际肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferases(DNMTs)is observed in many tumors. Overexpressed DNMTs silence tumor suppressor genes by catalyzing the methylation of CpG islands within the promoter regions, and therefore promote the neoplastic transformation of normal cells. Highly elevated DNMT activities have been observed in cancers including gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, and lung cancer and have been associated with cancer development and prognosis. Drugs and targeted therapies that inhibit DNMT activities can reactivate methylated tumor suppressor genes, promote apoptosis, and thus inhibit tumor growth.