Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print New technique for cancer screening

New technique for cancer screening

February 24, 2009

Graz, Austria - Current research suggests that a new technique to determine tumor methylation status can be used in archived tissue samples. The related report by Balic et al, "High quality assessment of DNA methylation in archival tissues from colorectal cancer patients using quantitative high-resolution melting analysis," appears in the March 2009 issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

DNA in tumors is often altered compared with DNA in normal tissues. One common DNA alteration in cancerous tissue is hypermethylation, which results in loss of gene expression. The difference in methylation between normal and cancerous tissues can be used as a biomarker for early cancer diagnosis, risk assessment, and response to therapy.




Archival tissues, or tissues that are formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded for long-term storage, are difficult to screen for cancer biomarkers due to the low quality of their DNA. It is therefore important to develop new techniques to screen for DNA methylation that can be used in archival tissues.

Balic and colleagues examined the ability of high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) to detect methylation on archival tissues from colorectal cancer patients. They found that HRM provided similar results between archival and fresh tissues. In addition, they validated the results using the widely used MethyLight assay.

The results by Balic et al "add substantial information on the HRM-based DNA methylation analysis and demonstrate its applicability for analysis of archival tissues." This assay can be used to establish risk stratification of patients based on methylation status of specific markers and, due to its high sensitivity may have the potential to detect low amounts of methylated cells within the tumor, or even to detect low numbers of tumor cells in the background of non-tumor cells in lymph nodes and other organs. Most importantly, because formalin fixation and paraffin embedding are the most common means of tissue storage, the reported method has the potential to make DNA methylation analysis possible on this vast tissue resource.

Balic and colleagues will now evaluate the ability of HRM-based DNA methylation analysis to predict the presence of lymph node metastases and to detect very small tumor deposits in lymph nodes with known micrometastatic disease in a well defined cohort of prostate cancer samples. This may lead to new and better predictive and staging methods for prostate cancer patients.

American Journal of Pathology



Related Methylation Current Events and Methylation News Articles Methylation Current Events and Methylation News RSS Methylation Current Events and Methylation News RSS
Researchers discover RNA repair system in bacteria
In new papers appearing this month in Science and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Illinois biochemistry professor Raven H. Huang and his colleagues describe the first RNA repair system to be discovered in bacteria.

Genes signal late-stage laryngeal cancer, poorer outcome
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital have identified tumor-suppressing genes that may provide a more accurate diagnosis of disease stage and survival for laryngeal cancer patients than current standards.

MDC scientists show how hematopoietic stem cell development is regulated
During cell division, whether hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) will develop into new stem cells (self-renewal) or differentiate into other blood cells depends on a chemical process called DNA methylation.

Study finds 231 new genes associated with head and neck cancer
A Henry Ford Hospital study has identified 231 new genes associated with head and neck cancer, one of the most deadly cancers responsible for 2.1 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States.

New Approach for the Treatment of Malignant Brain Tumors
Initial chemotherapy alone after surgery is just as successful as initial radiation therapy for patients from whom a very malignant brain tumor (anaplastic glioma) was removed. With this treatment, the patients survive on average > 30 months without a recurrence.

New blood tests promise simple, cost-effective diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers
Promising results from two new blood tests that can aid in the early identification of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers will be presented at Europe's largest cancer congress.

Changes to DNA linked to diabetes
Genes that regulate the energy consumption of cells have a different structure and expression in type II diabetics than they do in healthy people, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet published in Cell Metabolism.

Why don't brain tumors respond to medication?
Malignant brain tumors often fail to respond to promising new medication. Researchers in Heidelberg have discovered a mechanism and a tumor marker for the development of this resistance.

New DNA Test Uses Nanotechnology to Find Early Signs of Cancer
Using tiny crystals called quantum dots, Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a highly sensitive test to look for DNA attachments that often are early warning signs of cancer.

Researchers develop new, more-sensitive assay for detecting DNA methylation in colon cancer
A study published in this week's online issue of Nature Biotechnology, demonstrates a unique and highly sensitive method for detecting methylation-associated cancers.
More Methylation Current Events and Methylation News Articles
The Methylation Miracle: Unleashing Your Body's Natural Source of SAM-e

The Methylation Miracle: Unleashing Your Body's Natural Source of SAM-e
by Dr. Paul Frankel Ph.D. (Author)

Suddenly everyone is buzzing about SAMe, an extraordinary natural chemical we all manufacture. When SAMe levels are increased, some amazing things start happening--many people have found relief from such debilitating illnesses as depression and liver disease.

Now, based on his own revolutionary findings, Dr. Paul Frankel explains a safe, natural, groundbreaking program of supplements, diet changes, and lifestyle modification that will enhance your body's natural methylation process--the one that creates SAMe. This biochemical reaction also reduces the risk of cancer, premature aging, and heart disease, as well as protecting our bodies from harmful toxins, promoting optimum health and well-being.

Discover The Methylation Miracle today and find out how this extraordinary program can...

Methyl Magic: Maximum Health Through Methylation

Methyl Magic: Maximum Health Through Methylation
by Craig Cooney (Author), Bill Lawren (Author), Kilmer S. McCully (Author)

Text, for consumers, describing strategies based on the body's simplest chemical grouping: the methyl group. Details supplements, diet, and exercise strategies for boosting a person's methyl power for increased energy, a trimmer shape, and a healthy mental attitude.

DNA Methylation: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology)

DNA Methylation: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology)
by Jörg Tost (Editor)

Over the past few years, DNA methylation technologies and our knowledge of DNA methylation patterns have been advancing at a breathtaking pace. Due to this fact, DNA Methylation: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition completely revises, updates, and expands upon the popular first edition with the most current novel techniques, easier to use and more refined by the tested experience of leading experts. This revision reflects contemporary study of the subject: the analysis of gene-specific DNA methylation patterns has been complemented by genome-wide approaches, and epigenomics takes a central place. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, the chapters in this volume present brief introductions to the topics, lists of the necessary materials and...

DNA Methylation: Development, Genetic Disease and Cancer (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology)

DNA Methylation: Development, Genetic Disease and Cancer (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology)
by Walter Doerfler (Editor), P. Böhm (Editor)

It has become apparent that the genomes of many organisms are characterized by unique patterns of DNA methylation, which can differ from genome segment to genome segment and cell type to cell type. These patterns can be instrumental in determining cell type and function. Thus, it is not surprising that studies on the role of DNA methylation now occupy center stage in many fields of biology and medicine such as developmental biology, genetic imprinting, genetic disease, tumor biology, gene therapy, cloning of organisms and others. Once again, basic research in molecular biology has provided the essential foundation for investigations of biomedical problems.

DNA Methylation in Plants (Nova Biomedical)

DNA Methylation in Plants (Nova Biomedical)
by Boris F. Vanyushin (Editor), Vasili V. Ashapkin (Editor)

A high degree of nuclear DNA (nDNA) methylation is a specific feature of plant genomes, they do contain 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and N6-methyl adenine (m6A). More than 30 per cent m5C is located in CNG sequences. Specific changes in DNA methylation accompany the entire life of a plant starting from seed germination up to the death programmed or induced by various agents and factors of biological or abiotic nature. Modulation of DNA methylation is one of the possible modes of the hormonal action in plant. DNA methylation in plants is species-, tissue-, organelle- and age-specific; it is involved in the control of all genetic functions including transcription, replication, DNA repair, gene transposition and cell differentiation.DNA methylation is engaged in gene silencing and parental...

Vetri-Liver Feline For Cats, 120 Tablets

Vetri-Liver Feline For Cats, 120 Tablets
by Vetri-Science Laboratories

Vetri-Liver Feline Capsules for Cats is a comprehensive formula designed to support liver function, detoxification, fat metabolism, bile production and methylation reactions.

Vetri-Liver Feline For Cats, 120 Soft Chews

Vetri-Liver Feline For Cats, 120 Soft Chews
by Vetri-Science Laboratories

Vetri-Liver Feline Soft Chews for Cats is a comprehensive formula designed to support liver function, detoxification, fat metabolism, bile production and methylation reactions.

Cholesterol Homocysteine Formula 60 Tablets

Cholesterol Homocysteine Formula 60 Tablets
by Pharmacist's Ultimate Health



Protocol for Life Balance NAC N-acetyl cysteine, 600 mg - 100 Capsules

Protocol for Life Balance NAC N-acetyl cysteine, 600 mg - 100 Capsules
by Protocol for Life Balance

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a stable form of the non-essential amino acid L-Cysteine. It is a sulfur-containing amino acid that acts as a stabilizer for the formation of protein structures, and is also necessary for the formation of protein structures, and is also necessary for the formation of glutathione. Molybdenum and Selenium are essential trace minerals that facilitate the production of several important enzymes.*

STOP HOMOCYSTEINE through the METHYLATION PROCESS: The Key to controlling homocysteine and SAM and their effect on heart disease, aging, cancer, osteoporosis, depression, AIDS and other diseases

STOP HOMOCYSTEINE through the METHYLATION PROCESS: The Key to controlling homocysteine and SAM and their effect on heart disease, aging, cancer, osteoporosis, depression, AIDS and other diseases
by Paul Frankel (Author), Fred Madsen (Author), James Lembeck (Author), Julian Whittaker (Author), Dino Graphics (Illustrator)



© 2009 BrightSurf.com