肿瘤发生过程中表观遗传学机制－DNA甲基化的研究进展

Propress of epigenetics mechanism during tumor development---DNA methylation

表观遗传学是指在不改变DNA序列的前提下，通过化学修饰的作用影响基因的表达，从而改变细胞乃至个体表型的可遗传性基因调节方式。 DNA甲基化是表观遗传学中研究的热点领域之一。近年来，大量研究表明重复序列、特定基因和CpG岛甲基化修饰异常以及印记丢失的发生都与肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。随着甲基化检测手段的不断进步，人们对基因组的甲基化模式有了更加全面的了解。在基因组中发现的异常甲基化位点作为甲基化标志物，可应用于疾病的诊断、治疗及预后评估。并且针对甲基化修饰异常所导致的癌症发生，应用去甲基化药物已在临床治疗中取得良好疗效。

As a heritable regulation , epigenetics can regulate gene expression by other ways without changing the DNA sequence ,and change cell or individual phenotypes .DNA methylation is an issue in the field of epigenetics research.Recently,many studies have been demonstrated that the methylation of repetitive DNA ,spe-cific gene and CpG island and loss of imprinting play an important role in tumor occurrence .As the development of technological approaches to DNA methylation ,we have a more comprehensive understanding on methylation pat-terns.As specific markers,abnormal methylation sites in the genome can be used in the diagnosis ,treatment and prognosis predictor of disease .For tumor development caused by DNA methylation ,the application of demethylat-ing drugs have achieved good effect in clinical treatment .