title: [Global DNA hipomethylation--the meaning in carcinogenesis].
abstract: DNA methylation plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Tumor cells are characterized by alterations of DNA methylation pattern, namely local CpG island hypermethylation and genome wide hypomethylation. The hypomethylation of the genome affects many repetitive sequences and transposable elements and is believed to results in chromosomal instability and increased mutations events. In this review we summarize the current knowledge concerning epigenetic mechanisms related to cancer, especially the relationship of DNA hypomethylation to carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 24 Karlowicza St., 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland. jolaguz@cm.umk.pl
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guz
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foksiński
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliński
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D043171:Chromosomal Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D018384:Oxidative Stress