title: Gene-promoter hypermethylation as a biomarker in lung cancer.
abstract: Silencing of genes by aberrant promoter hypermethylation is now recognized as a crucial component in cancer initiation and progression. Highly sensitive assays have been developed to assess gene-promoter methylation in biological fluids. The detection of methylated genes in sputum could lead to the development of a screening test to non-invasively identify early cancer in high-risk people.
authors.affiliation: Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, USA. SBelinsk@lrri.org
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Belinsky
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018450:Disease Progression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor