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DNA methylation analysis: a powerful new tool for lung cancer diagnosis

Oncogene volume 21, pages 5450–5461 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Carcinoma of the lung is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. The estimated 5-year survival ranges from 6–16%, depending on the cell type. The best opportunity for improving survival of lung cancer patients is through early detection, when curative surgical resection is possible. Although the subjects at increased risk for developing carcinoma of the lung (long-term smokers) can be identified, only 10–20% of this group will ultimately develop the disease. Screening tests of long-term smokers employed to date (radiography and sputum cytology) have not been successful in reducing lung cancer mortality. The application of molecular markers specific for lung cancer offers new possibilities for early detection. Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter regions of genes is a common phenomenon in lung cancer, as demonstrated by the analysis of the methylation status of over 40 genes from lung cancer tumors, cell lines, patient sputum and/or serum. Determination of the methylation patterns of multiple genes to obtain complex DNA methylation signatures promises to provide a highly sensitive and specific tool for lung cancer diagnosis. When combined with the development of non-invasive methods to detect such signatures, this may provide a viable method to screen subjects at risk for lung cancer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the generous support provided by Mr and Mrs Eri and Mary Lou Metler and the Lung Cancer Methylation Fund, and for critical comments on the manuscript by members of the Laird-Offringa laboratory.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, NOR 6420, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Los Angeles, 90089-9176, California, CA, USA

    Jeffrey A Tsou & Ite A Laird-Offringa

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, NOR 6420, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Los Angeles, 90089-9176, California, CA, USA

    Jeffrey A Hagen & Ite A Laird-Offringa

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, NOR 6420, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Los Angeles, 90089-9176, California, CA, USA

    Catherine L Carpenter

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Correspondence to Ite A Laird-Offringa.

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Tsou, J., Hagen, J., Carpenter, C. et al. DNA methylation analysis: a powerful new tool for lung cancer diagnosis. Oncogene 21, 5450–5461 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1205605

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