Epigenetic stem cell signature in cancer

Martin Widschwendter, Heidi Fiegl, Daniel Egle, Elisabeth Mueller-Holzner, Gilbert Spizzo, Christian Marth, Daniel J. Weisenberger, Mihaela Campan, Joanne Young, Ian Jacobs, Peter W. Laird

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Embryonic stem cells rely on Polycomb group proteins to reversibly repress genes required for differentiation. We report that stem cell Polycomb group targets are up to 12-fold more likely to have cancer-specific promoter DNA hypermethylation than non-targets, supporting a stem cell origin of cancer in which reversible gene repression is replaced by permanent silencing, locking the cell into a perpetual state of self-renewal and thereby predisposing to subsequent malignant transformation. © 2007 Nature Publishing Group.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)157-158
    Number of pages1
    JournalNature Genetics
    Volume39
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Feb 2007

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