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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2014; 20(4): 978-987
Published online Jan 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.978
Accumulation of aberrant DNA methylation during colorectal cancer development
Eiji Sakai, Atsushi Nakajima, Atsushi Kaneda
Eiji Sakai, Atsushi Nakajima, Department of Gastroenterology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan
Eiji Sakai, Atsushi Kaneda, Genome Science Division, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
Atsushi Kaneda, Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
Atsushi Kaneda, CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
Author contributions: Sakai E and Kaneda A wrote the manuscript; Nakajima A and Kaneda A supervised the study.
Correspondence to: Atsushi Kaneda, MD, PhD, Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chuo-ku, Chiba-City 260-8670, Japan. kaneda@chiba-u.jp
Telephone: +81-43-2262039 Fax: +81-43-2262039
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: November 12, 2013
Accepted: December 12, 2013
Published online: January 28, 2014
Processing time: 120 Days and 3.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease which involves several distinct molecular carcinogenetic pathways. Recent comprehensive genome-wide analyses clarify detailed DNA methylation statuses of cancer-related genes in CRC. We and others have investigated the association between DNA methylation and genetic alterations, and performed classification of CRC/their precursors, including conventional adenomas, serrated adenomas, non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms and aberrant crypt foci. In addition, we also evaluated the usefulness of DNA methylation markers as surrogate biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic application of CRC. Here, we review the DNA methylation status and classification of CRC to understand the roles of DNA methylation in colorectal carcinogenesis.