The Role of DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Changes in the Initiation and Progression of Cancers

DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression and maintaining normal cellular functions [۱]. Aberrant methylation patterns contribute to cancer initiation and progression through silencing of tumor suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes, and induction of genomic instability . Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic alterations may occur during the early stages of tumorigenesis, highlighting their importance as potential biomarkers for early cancer detection. This review discusses the role of DNA methylation and other epigenetic alterations in cancer development, progression, and metastasis . The molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation, including the role of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), CpG island methylation, and interactions with histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, are summarized . In addition, current clinical applications of DNA methylation in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring are reviewed . Emerging epigenetic therapies and modern approaches for studying methylation patterns, including next-generation sequencing technologies, are also discussed . Furthermore, current challenges such as tumor heterogeneity and variability of methylation profiles are highlighted . Overall, DNA methylation represents a promising target for improving cancer diagnosis and developing personalized therapeutic strategies

کلیدواژه ها:

DNA methylation ، epigenetics ، cancer ، metastasis ، biomarker ، DNMT ، epigenetic therapy ، gene expression