Genetics supersedes epigenetics in colon cancer phenotype

Cancer Cell. 2003 Aug;4(2):121-31. doi: 10.1016/s1535-6108(03)00190-9.

Abstract

A CpG island DNA methylator phenotype has been postulated to explain silencing of the hMLH1 DNA mismatch repair gene in cancer of the microsatellite mutator phenotype. To evaluate this model, we analyzed methylation in CpG islands from six mutator and suppressor genes, and thirty random genomic sites, in a panel of colorectal cancers. Tumor-specific somatic hypermethylation was a widespread age-dependent process that followed a normal Gaussian distribution. Because there was no discontinuity in methylation rate, our results challenge the methylator phenotype hypothesis and its hypothetical pathological underlying defect. We also show that the mutator phenotype dominates over the gradual accumulation of DNA hypermethylation in determining the genotypic features that govern the phenotypic peculiarities of colon cancer of the mutator pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • CpG Islands / genetics*
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Humans
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phenotype
  • Suppression, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • MLH1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1