Novel risk markers for gastric cancer screening: Present status and future prospects

Figure 4 Temporary DNA methylation and permanent DNA methylation of gastric mucosae. DNA methylation includes temporary methylation, which is induced only during Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, and permanent methylation, which persists even after elimination of HP infection. From time points 2 to 5, when HP infection was positive, overall methylation levels changed, with increases in permanent methylation, and increases and decreases in temporary methylation. At this stage, temporary methylation showed large fluctuations, so distinguishing differences in gastric cancer (GC) risk between cases was difficult. However, after spontaneous elimination of HP or HP eradication, at time point 8, at which time only permanent DNA methylation was present, GC risk was clearly higher in Figure 4A.