表观遗传学的改变普遍存在于各种恶性肿瘤中,DNA甲基化是表观遗传学改变的主要形式之一。DNA甲基化状态的改变可显著影响基因的表达,抑癌基因高甲基化及癌基因低甲基化是导致恶性肿瘤发生、发展的重要机制。因此,检测恶性肿瘤DNA甲基化状态的变化对于揭示其发病机制意义重大。近年来,DNA甲基化检测技术尤其是DNA甲基化芯片检测技术在恶性肿瘤发病机制、临床诊疗等方面得到越来越广泛的应用。
Epigenetic changes generally exist in various malignant tumors.DNA methylation is one of the main forms of epigenetic changes.Change of DNA methylation can significantly affect expression of gene.Antioncogenes hypermethylation and oncogene hypomethylation may be the important mechanism for the occurrence and development of malignant tumor.Therefore,it is significant that detecting the changes of malignant tumor DNA methylation status can reveal the pathogenesis of malignant tumor.In recent years,DNA methylation detection technology especially DNA methylation microarray technology has been widely used in the study of the pathogenesis,clinical diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumor.