title: Hypomethylation of DNA from benign and malignant human colon neoplasms.
abstract: The methylation state of DNA from human colon tissue displaying neoplastic growth was determined by means of restriction endonuclease analysis. When compared to DNA from adjacent normal tissue, DNA from both benign colon polyps and malignant carcinomas was substantially hypomethylated. With the use of probes for growth hormone, gamma-globin, alpha-chorionic gonadotropin, and gamma-crystallin, methylation changes were detected in all 23 neoplastic growths examined. Benign polyps were hypomethylated to a degree similar to that in malignant tissue. These results indicate that hypomethylation is a consistent biochemical characteristic of human colonic tumors and is an alteration in the DNA that precedes malignancy.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Goelz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vogelstein
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Feinberg
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000235:genetics; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003459:Crystallins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005914:Globins