title: Alterations of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in human cancers.
abstract: Prior to 2009, 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) was thought to be the only biologically significant cytosine modification in mammalian DNA. With the discovery of the TET enzymes, which convert 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), however, intense interest has emerged in determining the biological function of 5-hmC. Here, we review the techniques used to study 5-hmC and evidence that alterations to 5-hmC physiology play a functional role in the molecular pathogenesis of human cancers.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. lgodley@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madzo
authors.forename: Erika L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yesilkanal
authors.forename: Lucy A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Godley