title: DNA methylation: a promising target for the twenty-first century.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the last few years DNA methylation and its involvement in diseases such as cancer has become of great interest for applied research. Since reversal of aberrant DNA methylation may influence the behavior of tumors, the methylation of DNA CpG sites is a potential target for the development of inhibitors for use in cancer treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We briefly review the structural and mechanistic features of DNA methylation, including a structural analysis of the three main human DNA methyltransferases and some (pre)clinical results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite side effects, data obtained to date still support the vision that DNA-methylation, possibly associated with the use of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and/or artificial transcription factors (ATFs), is a promising target for improving anticancer therapy in the 21st century.
authors.affiliation: Federal Fluminense University, Biology Institute, Department of Celular and Molecular Biology, CEP 24020-150 Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dellamora-Ortiz
authors.forename: Luiz R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Leão-Ferreira
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Braggio
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalcberg
authors.forename: Dilvani O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Saulo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourguinhon
authors.forename: Lucio M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004247:DNA; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases