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.

UCLA study findings hold promise to cure diabetes

Simply put, people develop diabetes because they don't have enough pancreatic beta cells to produce the insulin necessary to regulate their blood sugar levels.

30 Apr 2011

Exposure to air pollution may alter women's DNA and cause premenopausal breast cancer

Exposure to air pollution early in life and when a woman gives birth to her first child may alter her DNA and may be associated with premenopausal breast cancer later in life, researchers at the University at Buffalo have shown.

21 Apr 2011

NEB, Sequenom sign deal to commercialize research tools for epigenetics

New England Biolabs, Inc. and Sequenom, Inc. jointly announce that they have signed a licensing and co-marketing agreement to commercialize research tools for epigenetics.

From New England Biolabs 6 Apr 2011

Breast cancer updates

According to the latest research human breast milk holds the potential to assess a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

5 Apr 2011

Epithelial cells in breast milk can help assess breast cancer risk

Breast cancer risk can be assessed by examining the epithelial cells found in breast milk, according to preliminary study results presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6.

4 Apr 2011

Aberrant DNA methylation may initiate cancer development

Cells control which genes they express by multiple mechanisms, one of which is the direct modification of DNA with small molecules. Methylation of genes effectively silences them, and excess DNA methylation, particularly of genes that control the cell cycle, is known to promote cancer formation.

1 Apr 2011

MMRF hails new publication of multiple myeloma genome analysis in Nature journal

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation today hailed a new publication in Nature as a major step forward in the organization's efforts to advance a personalized medicine approach in multiple myeloma.

24 Mar 2011

Rush scientific team selects BioFortis Labmatrix database to manage biomarker research activities

Dr. Victor Levenson, a radiation oncologist at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and his scientific team have recently selected Labmatrix to manage their biobanking and biomarker research activities at this top-ranking U.S. medical research institution. Labmatrix is a web-accessible collaborative scientific database software developed by BioFortis, Inc.

24 Mar 2011

DNA methylation patterns can accurately detect early bowel cancer

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered for the first time that DNA methylation patterns - a key process in cell development - could accurately detect early bowel cancer, according to research published in Gut, today.

3 Mar 2011

NCI sponsors multi-center phase 2 study of entinostat-anastrozole combination in triple negative breast cancer

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, announced the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will sponsor a multi-center phase 2 study of Syndax's lead product entinostat, a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDAC), and anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, in postmenopausal women with operable triple negative breast cancer to evaluate biomarkers and surrogates for response.

2 Mar 2011

QIAGEN, Epigenomics enter option agreement to commercialize colorectal cancer blood test

Epigenomics AG, the cancer molecular diagnostics company, and QIAGEN today announced that the companies have entered into an option agreement allowing QIAGEN to develop and, should QIAGEN exercise the option, commercialize a colorectal cancer blood test based on Epigenomics' proprietary biomarker mSEPT9 and certain DNA methylation analysis technologies.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 28 Feb 2011

More research needed to determine link between folic acid and breast cancer

Partek signs distribution agreement with Life Technologies

Partek Incorporated, a global leader in bioinformatics software, announced today the signing of a distribution agreement with Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of next-generation DNA sequencing technology. The agreement makes Partek Genomics Suite available through Life Technologies as a featured solution for analyzing data generated by Life Technologies' next-generation sequencing devices.

5 Feb 2011

New study shows biomarker test can aid in early, precise diagnosis of melanoma

A new study shows that a test of biomarkers for DNA methylation is technically feasible and could aid in earlier, more precise diagnosis of melanoma.

24 Jan 2011

Fat linked with DNA chemical changes may help identify risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes

Fat appears to associate with some distinctive chemical changes in the DNA - a finding that may help explain why obesity can increase the risk for chronic problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, researchers report.

21 Jan 2011

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

If you are looking to lose weight in the coming year, you may need help from an unexpected place: the bacteria in your gut. That's because scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined.

14 Jan 2011

Epigenomics concludes feasibility phase in development of improved product concept for Epi proColon

Epigenomics AG, the cancer molecular diagnostic company, today announced that it has concluded the feasibility phase in the development of an improved product concept for Epi proColon, the Company's DNA methylation-based blood test for assistance in the detection of individuals with colorectal cancer.

13 Jan 2011

People with high RBC folate levels more likely to have two tumor-suppressing genes

People with higher levels of folate in their red blood cells were more likely to have two tumor-suppressing genes shut down by methylation, a chemical off switch for genes, researchers report in the December issue of Cancer Prevention Research.

22 Dec 2010

Study broadens understanding of role of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in AML

Agios Pharmaceuticals, the leading biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel drugs in the rapidly emerging field of cancer metabolism, today announced the publication of a paper in Cancer Cell that illuminates the mechanism by which 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), and the mutations in the metabolic genes IDH1 and IDH2 that produce it, may be driving the growth of tumors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

15 Dec 2010

Novel labeling technique helps researchers to explore DNA chemical modification

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and the University of Chicago have developed a method for labeling and mapping a "sixth nucleotide," whose biological role scientists are only beginning to explore.

14 Dec 2010