Gastric cancer prevention by demethylation

Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2013 Apr;6(4):253-6. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0067.

Abstract

Niwa and colleagues report in this issue that treatment with the DNA demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine decreases the incidence of gastric cancers in an animal model of Helicobacter pylori-promoted gastric cancer. This provocative study underscores the importance of changes in DNA methylation that contribute to the origin of inflammation-related cancers. The findings also raise the exciting possibility of cancer prevention by altering DNA methylation events early during tumorigenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / microbiology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / prevention & control*
  • Animals
  • Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Azacitidine / therapeutic use
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Decitabine
  • Helicobacter Infections / complications*
  • Helicobacter pylori / physiology*
  • Male
  • Stomach Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Decitabine
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases
  • Azacitidine