Epigenetics and DNA methylation in cancer

Figure 4 Hypermethylation consequences in cancer. A: Key genes required for normal cellular differentiation become hypermethylated in cancer, resulting in a block to their activation and to normal differentiation processes. Thus cancer cells express a more aggressive, stem-cell like phenotype; B: Hypermethylation of repressed CpG island promoters might prevent the activation of genes facilitating survival in changing conditions such during metastatisation. Thus, widespread hypermethylation might restrict the potential for epigenetic adaptation and result in block to progression. Adapted by Sproul et al[4], 2013.