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Biomarkers in Cancer pp 827–847Cite as

DNA Methylation as a Biomarker in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

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Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy with remarkable ethnic and geographic distribution. Initially, point mutations and chromosomal deletions were considered to be the major events involved in the inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes in NPC. The discovery that many tumor-suppressor genes can also be inactivated by hypermethylation of the CpG islands in their promoter region clearly indicates that epigenetic events also play an important role as alternative mechanisms in NPC carcinogenesis.

In this chapter, we update current information on methylated genes associated with the development and progression of NPC. Promoter hypermethylation of critical genes could be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NPC.

Several genes have been investigated for methylation in the promoter region in NPC. These methylated genes are involved in critical pathways, such as DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and invasion/metastasis.

The role of hypermethylated genes in the deregulation of critical pathways in NPC is now well known. Besides their role on the pathogenesis of NPC, results from many investigations have provided additional information on the potential role of hypermethylated genes as predictive biomarkers in the development and progression of NPC.

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Abbreviations

CDH1:

Epithelial E-Cadherin

CGH:

Comparative Genomic Hybridization

DAB2:

Human Disabled-2

DAP-kinase:

Death-Associated Protein Kinase

DLC-1:

Deleted in Liver Cancer-1

DLEC1:

Deleted in Lung and Esophageal Cancer 1

DNMT:

DNA Methyltransferase

EBV:

Epstein–Barr Virus

GSTP1:

Glutathione S-Transferase P1

HIN-1:

High in Normal-1

HLA:

Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigens

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer

LARS2:

Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase 2, Mitochondrial

LOH:

Loss of Heterozygosity

MGMT:

O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase

MSP:

Methylation-Specific PCR

NPC:

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

PCR:

Polymerase Chain Reaction

RARβ2:

Retinoic Acid Receptor β2

RASSF1A:

Ras Association Domain Family 1A

TFPI-2:

Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2

TIMP-3:

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3

TSG:

Tumor-Suppressor Genes

TSLC1:

Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer 1

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia

    Feryel Ksiâa & Mounir Trimeche

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  1. Feryel Ksiâa
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  2. Mounir Trimeche
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Correspondence to Mounir Trimeche .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine King’s College London, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Scien, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. Faculty of Science & Technology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Ksiâa, F., Trimeche, M. (2015). DNA Methylation as a Biomarker in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. In: Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Cancer. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7681-4_43

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