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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 157-158 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | Nature Genetics |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2007 |