DNA Methylation News and Research

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DNA methylation is a type of chemical modification of DNA that can be inherited and subsequently removed without changing the original DNA sequence. As such, it is part of the epigenetic code and is also the most well characterized epigenetic mechanism.

Treating peanut allergy with oral immunotherapy changes DNA of immune cells

Treating a peanut allergy with oral immunotherapy changes the DNA of the patient's immune cells, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. The DNA change could serve as the basis for a simple blood test to monitor the long-term effectiveness of the allergy therapy.

31 Jan 2014

Researchers study how epigenetic alterations contribute to age-related increases in breast cancer risk

Age is a key risk factor for breast cancer. A recent study by researchers from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, "Age-related DNA methylation in normal breast tissue and its relationship with invasive breast tumor methylation," examines the connection between cancer and the aging process to see if epigenetic DNA alterations might contribute to age-related increases in breast cancer risk.

31 Jan 2014

Findings on molecular defects behind bladder cancer may pave way for new, targeted treatments

The once sketchy landscape of the molecular defects behind bladder cancer now resembles a road map to new, targeted treatments thanks to the unified efforts of scientists and physicians at 40 institutions.

30 Jan 2014

Johns Hopkins researchers reveal how non-CpG methylation may contribute to Rett Syndrome

In normal development, all cells turn off genes they don’t need, often by attaching a chemical methyl group to the DNA, a process called methylation. Historically, scientists believed methyl groups could only stick to a particular DNA sequence: a cytosine followed by a guanine, called CpG. But in recent years, they have been found on other sequences, and so-called non-CpG methylation has been found in stem cells, and in neurons in the brain.

28 Jan 2014

Study reveals epigenetic changes also play a role in breast cancer risk

Breast cancer runs in families; however, genetic predisposition (such as being BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers) explains only a portion of this observation.

8 Jan 2014

Research: Smoking alters several genes

The fact that smoking means a considerable health risk is nowadays commonly accepted. New research findings from Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Center show that smoking alters several genes that can be associated with health problems for smokers, such as increased risk for cancer and diabetes

17 Dec 2013

Research explores epigenetic effects that contribute to psychiatric disorders in offspring

Advanced paternal age has been associated with greater risk for psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. With an increase in paternal age, there is a greater frequency of certain types of mutations that contribute to these disorders in offspring.

9 Dec 2013

Researchers take closer look at genetically engineered mouse models and human cancer samples

Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA have taken a closer look at existing mouse models of cancer, specifically comparing them to human cancer samples. These genetically engineered mouse models (which usually either overexpress a cancer-causing gene-or "oncogene"-or carry a deletion for a "tumor suppressor" gene) have been extensively used to understand human cancer biology in studies of drug resistance, early detection, metastasis, and cancer prevention, as well as for the preclinical development of novel targeted therapeutics.

6 Dec 2013

Researchers study role of small non-coding RNAs expressed in the human male germline

Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain, have studied the role of a peculiar class of small non-coding RNAs that are mainly expressed in the human male germline.

22 Nov 2013

Buck Institute research provides method to study sarcopenia

Our epigenome is a set of chemical switches that turn parts of our genome off and on at strategic times and locations. These switches help alter the way our cells act and are impacted by environmental factors including diet, exercise and stress. Research at the Buck Institute reveals that aging also effects the epigenome in human skeletal muscle. The study, appearing on line in Aging Cell, provides a method to study sarcopenia, the degenerative loss of muscle mass that begins in middle age.

21 Nov 2013

Findings show how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected

Researchers from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth have found that epigenetic changes to DNA are associated with aging in disease-free breast tissues and are further altered in breast tumors. Epigenetic changes describe heritable alterations caused by mechanisms other than by changes in DNA sequence. The discovery, published in the February 2014 issue of Epigenetics, illustrates how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected processes by identifying epigenetic alterations present in the normal aging breast that may increase disease risk in cancer-free individuals.

21 Nov 2013

Novel discovery of RUNX3 gene provides new insights on defence mechanism against lung cancer

Novel discovery relating to the function of RUNX3 gene provides new insights on human defence mechanism against early stages of lung cancer development

13 Nov 2013

Study suggests that therapies targeting KDM2A may benefit subset of NSCLS patients

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Current therapies that target cellular kinases have been effective for some patients: however, many individuals with NSCLS do not respond.

11 Nov 2013

A*STAR scientists discover potential target to weed out progression of cancer

Scientists at A*STAR have discovered an enzyme, Wip1 phosphatase, as a potential target to weed out the progression of cancer. Although studies in the past have revealed that this enzyme plays a critical role in regulating the budding of tumours, scientists have for the first time unearthed a mechanism for its mode of action.

10 Nov 2013

DNA Methylation News and Research

Further Reading

Treating peanut allergy with oral immunotherapy changes DNA of immune cells

Researchers study how epigenetic alterations contribute to age-related increases in breast cancer risk

Findings on molecular defects behind bladder cancer may pave way for new, targeted treatments

Johns Hopkins researchers reveal how non-CpG methylation may contribute to Rett Syndrome

Study reveals epigenetic changes also play a role in breast cancer risk

Research: Smoking alters several genes

Research explores epigenetic effects that contribute to psychiatric disorders in offspring

Researchers take closer look at genetically engineered mouse models and human cancer samples

Researchers study role of small non-coding RNAs expressed in the human male germline

Buck Institute research provides method to study sarcopenia

Findings show how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected

Novel discovery of RUNX3 gene provides new insights on defence mechanism against lung cancer

Study suggests that therapies targeting KDM2A may benefit subset of NSCLS patients

A*STAR scientists discover potential target to weed out progression of cancer

DNA methylation signature marks recurrence in early stage lung cancer

Hopes Raised For Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection

UCLA study uncovers biological clock that may shed light on why our bodies age

New research identifies internal timepiece that accurately gauge age of human organs and tissues

HSCI researchers discover on-off switch for gene expression

Research delves deeply into genomics of glioblastoma multiforme cases to better target disease

DNA Methylation eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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