DNA Methylation Patterns Accurately Detect Early Bowel Cancer

Scientists have discovered that DNA methylation patterns, a key process in cell development, could accurately detect early bowel cancer.

Investigators from Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute (Cambridge, United Kingdom) analyzed 261 tumor samples taken from patients who had either benign bowel polyps or had developed bowel cancer.

They found that DNA methylation patterns of two genes called SFRP2 and IGF2 identified and distinguished between tumors and benign polyps, with an accuracy of more than 90%.

Levels of an enzyme called DNMT3B, which helps add methyl groups to DNA, were also measured. Enzyme levels in tumor samples increased from lower amounts present at the polyp stage to higher levels in bowel cancer. The increase in enzyme levels corresponded with the increased amount of DNA methylation - and provided an explanation for the changes.

Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim, lead author of the study, which was published online in Gut on November 10, 2010, said, "The molecular signals, which tell genes whether to make proteins or not, can become jumbled in cancer cells. We've identified several places where this signal becomes damaged and shown this is linked to bowel cancer development.”

"The majority of bowel cancers develop from benign polyps that turn cancerous - and this crucial research deepens our understanding of the molecular changes behind this development. This first step in detecting molecular ‘flags' for bowel cancer, could, one day, lead to a simple test to search DNA for the early signs of the disease.”

Related Links:

Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute