Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “DNA methylation profiling”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources

Methylation profile of P. lividus sea urchin genes during development.

Methylation pattern has been studied in two genes of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus using sodium bisulfite method to understand the possible role of DNA methylation during invertebrate development. Three regions of the gene for the hatching enzyme have been analyzed and all of them resulted unmethylated in embryos at different stages of development. Four CpG rich regions have been studied in the gene for DNA methyltransferase: upstream, upstream-exon1, intron 1 and exon 20. The upstream-exon 1 region is always unmethylated, while intron 1 and exon 20 are heavy methylated. Only the upstream fragment changed its pattern of methylation during development. For none of the studied regions the reported data show a general direct correlation between gene expression and methylation process during development.

Animals↗

Cancer epigenetics: DNA methylation and chromatin alterations in human cancer.

Aberrations in the DNA methylation patterns are nowadays recognized as a hallmark of human cancer. One of the most characteristic changes is the hypermethylation of CpG islands of tumor suppressor genes associated with their transcriptional silencing. The target genes are distributed in all cellular pathways (apoptosis, DNA repair, cell cycle, cell adherence, etc.). They are "classical" tumor suppressor genes with associated familial cancers (BRCA1, hMLH1, p16INK4a, VHL, etc.) and putative new tumor suppressor genes which loss may contribute to the transformed phenotype (MGMT, p14ARF, GSTP1, RARB2, etc.). A tumor-type specific profile of CpG island hypermethylation exist in human cancer that allows the use of these aberrantly hypermethylated loci as biomarkers of the malignant disease. The eruption of new technologies for the careful study of the DNA methylation patterns, and their genetic partners in accomplishing gene silencing, it may also provide us with new drugs for the epigenetic treatment of human tumors.

Animals↗

Epigenetic marks by DNA methylation specific to stem, germ and somatic cells in mice.

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation is involved in many gene functions such as gene-silencing, X-inactivation, imprinting and stability of the gene. We recently found that some CpG islands had a tissue-dependent and differentially methylated region (T-DMR) in normal tissues, raising the possibility that there may be more CpG islands capable of differential methylation. RESULTS: We investigated the genome-wide DNA methylation pattern of CpG islands by restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) in mouse stem cells (ES, EG and trophoblast stem) before and after differentiation, and sperm as well as somatic tissues. A total of 247 spots out of 1500 (16%) showed differences in the appearance of their RLGS profiles, indicating that CpG islands having T-DMR were numerous and widespread. The methylation pattern was specific, and varied in a precise manner according to cell lineage, tissue type and during cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Genomic loci with altered methylation status seem to be more common than has hitherto been realized. The formation of DNA methylation patterns at CpG islands is one of the epigenetic events which underlies the production of various cell types in the body. These findings should have implications for the use of embryonic stem cells and cells derived from them therapeutically, and also for the cloning of animals by the transfer of somatic cell nuclei.

Animals↗

Relationships between DNA methylation and expression in erythrocyte membrane protein (band 3, protein 4.2, and beta-spectrin) genes during human erythroid development and differentiation.

Red cell membrane proteins are sequentially expressed during erythroid development and differentiation. Spectrins have already been synthesized in early erythroid precursors such as pronormoblasts, and band 3 (B3) appears at nearly the same stage. Protein 4.1 appears next, followed by protein 4.2 (P4.2) at the very late erythroblast stage. The methylation states of the promoter 5'-CG-3' sites are known to be linked to the regulation of promoter function by modulating DNA-protein interactions and the structure of chromatin. Hence, the genes for B3, P4.2, and beta-spectrin (beta-SP) appear to be suitable models to study the relationship between methylation of promoter 5'-CG-3' sites and the sequential expression of genes during human erythroid development and differentiation. We have examined methylation profiles in the promoter regions of the genes (ELB42, EPB3, and SPTB) for the human erythroid membrane proteins P4.2, B3, and beta-SP by applying the bisulfite genomic sequencing method. Our results demon strate the following: (1) The promoter regions of EPB3 and ELB42 are extensively methylated in DNA from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but the SPTB promoter is totally unmethylated. (2) During erythroid differentiation, DNA methylation patterns change as follows: (a) ELB42 is unmethylated in DNA from erythroid-committed blastic cells, such as the human cell lin UT-7/EPO, but is methylated in erythroblasts from peripheral blood burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) in the second phase of the liquid-culture method. Messenger RNA (mRNA) from ELB42 is first detected in early erythroblasts, and P4.2 is expressed in late erythroblasts. (b) In contrast, EPB3 is consistently methylated in UT-7/EPO cells and in cultured erythroblasts from BFU-E from human peripheral blood. B3 mRNA and protein are already expressed in early erythroblasts. (c) SPTB remains unmethylated in human DNA from UT-7/EPO cells and from cultured erythroblasts. These results document the diversity of the reactions of human promoter sequences to the modulating influence of DNA methylation. Whereas the human SPTB promoter conforms to expectations in that it is unmethylated and fully active throughout erythroid development, high levels of promoter methylation correlate with promoter activity for the EPB3 and ELB42 genes during their sequential activation in erythrocyte differentiation.

Cell Differentiation↗

Oncogene regulation of tumor suppressor genes in tumorigenesis.

We attempted to demonstrate whether there is an epigenetic link between oncogenes and tumor suppression genes in tumorigenesis. We designed a high throughput model to identify a candidate group of tumor suppressor genes potentially regulated by oncogenes. Gene expression profiling of mock-transfected versus v-src-transfected 3Y1 rat fibroblasts identified significant overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1, the enzyme responsible for aberrant genome methylation, in v-src-transfected fibroblasts. Secondary microarray analyses identified a number of candidate tumor suppressor genes that were down-regulated by v-src but were also re-expressed following treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a potent demethylating agent. This candidate group included both tumor suppressor genes that are known to be silenced by DNA hypermethylation and those that have not been previously identified with promoter hypermethylation. To further validate our model, we identified tsg, a tumor suppressor gene that was shown to be down-regulated by v-src and found to harbor dense promoter hypermethylation. Our model demonstrates a cooperative relationship between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes mediated through promoter hypermethylation.

Animals↗

Tumor suppressor genes in the 9p21 gene cluster are selective targets of inactivation in neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors.

Functional inactivation of the Rb and p53 pathways appears to be a rite of passage for all cancerous cells. However, p53 and Rb alterations are rare events in neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tumors. The CDKN2 locus on chromosome 9p21 sits at the nexus of both pathways harboring tumor suppressor genes, which restrain cell growth by affecting the function of pRb and p53. Therefore, we analyzed the implication of their inactivation in 37 primary neuroendocrine GEP tumors and two cell culture models. RT-PCR analysis revealed loss of expression of at least one of the tumor suppressor genes CDKN2A/p16, CDKN2B/p15, and CDKN2D/p14 with distinct genetic profiles, most frequently in nonfunctional pancreatic tumors (57%) and small intestinal carcinoids (44%), and less commonly in insulinomas (30%) and gastrinomas (22%). DNA analysis and methylation-specific PCR attributed loss of expression to either homozygous deletion or 5'CpG island hypermethylation. 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine treatment reversed CDKN2A/p16 and CDKN2B/p15 silencing with concurrent growth restraint. Thus, tumor suppressor genes localized in the 9p21 gene cluster are specific targets of inactivation in neuroendocrine GEP tumors, and demethylating agents might hold promise for selective therapy.

Carrier Proteins↗

Comparison of DNA damage in peripheral blood and spleen lymphocytes using the single-cell gel assay.

The alkaline single-cell gel (SCG) or 'comet' assay has been applied to the detection of DNA damage from a number of chemical and biological factors in vivo and in vitro. In the past, a number of cell types has been used with peripheral blood lymphocytes being the most readily accessible. This study was designed to determine whether lymphocytes sequestered in the spleen might prove more sensitive to DNA damage than those in the peripheral circulation. This would result in a more effective SCG assay. Baseline DNA length to width ratios for peripheral blood and splenic lymphocytes did not differ significantly from each other (1.27 and 1.21, respectively). Neither did ratios of lymphocytes from the two sources, sampled 20 and 48 h after injection with 100 mg/kg methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) (3.81 and 3.62 at 20 h, respectively; and 1.96 and 2.21 at 48 h, respectively). Recovery from MMS damage at 168 h postinjection was also not different in the two groups of cells (1.13 and 1.16, respectively). However, an examination of cell profiles of DNA damage showed that splenic lymphocytes had a significantly higher percentage of damaged cells (63.33%) than did peripheral blood lymphocytes (40.67%) 48 h postinjection. Of the hypotheses proposed for this difference, the most likely seems to involve the different proportions of B- and T-lymphocytes present in the peripheral blood and the spleen. Since the difference between peripheral blood and splenic lymphocytes was seen only at 48 h postinjection, the use of splenic lymphocytes in the SCG assay is not advantageous under most circumstances.

Animals↗

Species-dependent expression patterns of DNA methyltransferase genes in mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos.

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) comprise a family of proteins involved in the establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns in the mammalian genome. DNA methylation involves the transfer of the methyl group of the coenzyme S-adenosyl-L-methionine to the 5 position of cytosine residues within CpG dinucleotides. DNA methylation is implicated in the control of imprinted genes expression, X chromosome silencing, development of certain types of cancer, and embryonic development. DNA methylation is also believed to protect the genome from parasitic elements such as transposons, retrotransposons, and viruses. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, and DNMT3L genes in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) oocytes and preimplantation stage embryos from fertilization to the hatched blastocyst stage, and to compare these results with the expression profiles in the mouse and other mammalian species. We describe species-dependent differences as well as similarities in expression patterns of DNMT genes among mammals.

Animals↗

DNA-protein cross-links and replication-dependent histone H2AX phosphorylation induced by aminoflavone (NSC 686288), a novel anticancer agent active against human breast cancer cells.

Aminoflavone (5-amino-2,3-fluorophenyl)-6,8-difluoro-7-methyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) (NSC 686288) is a candidate for possible advancement to phase I clinical trial. Aminoflavone has a unique activity profile in the NCI 60 cell lines (COMPARE analysis; http://www.dtp.nci.nih.gov/docs/dtp_search.html), and exhibits potent cellular and animal antitumor activity. To elucidate the mechanism of action of aminoflavone, we studied DNA damage in MCF-7 cells. Aminoflavone induced DNA-protein cross-links (DPC) and DNA single-strand breaks (SSB). Aminoflavone induced high levels of DPC and much lower level of SSB than camptothecin, which induces equal levels of DPC and SSB due to the trapping topoisomerase I-DNA complexes. Accordingly, neither topoisomerase I nor topoisomerase II were detectable in the aminoflavone-induced DPC. Aminoflavone also induced dose- and time-dependent histone H2AX phosphorylation (gamma-H2AX). Gamma-H2AX foci occurred with DPC formation, and like DPC, persisted after aminoflavone removal. Aphidicolin prevented gamma-H2AX formation, suggesting that gamma-H2AX foci correspond to replication-associated DNA double-strand breaks. Accordingly, no gamma-H2AX foci were found in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-negative or in mitotic cells. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses showed DNA synthesis inhibition uniformly throughout the S phase after exposure to aminoflavone. Aminoflavone also induced RPA2 and p53 phosphorylation, and induced p21(Waf1/Cip1) and MDM2, demonstrating S-phase checkpoint activation. These studies suggest that aminoflavone produces replication-dependent DNA lesions and S-phase checkpoint activation following DPC formation. Gamma-H2AX may be a useful clinical marker for monitoring the efficacy of aminoflavone in tumor therapies.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Detection of DNA methylation. Potential applications to diagnostic cytopathology.

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes is often the result of genetic mutations or deletions. However, another mechanism for silencing genes involves DNA methylation. In this setting, a methyl group is added to cytosine residues within the gene promoter region; that prevents transcription. Tumors usually contain multiple genes that have been silenced by methylation, unlike normal tissues, in which gene methylation events are less common. The list of genes methylated in a given tumor is often referred to as a gene methylation profile. Gene methylation profiles may be almost unique for each type of tumor. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction is a sensitive technique that can detect gene methylation in cytologic samples. Application of this technique to cytologic cancer screening tests may increase their sensitivity. Also, the introduction of novel chemotherapeutic drugs that target DNA methylation may utilize gene methylation assays on fine needle aspiration biopsies of tumors.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Role of de novo DNA methyltransferases and methyl CpG-binding proteins in gene silencing in a rat hepatoma.

The expression of metallothionein-I (MT-I), a known antioxidant, was suppressed in a transplanted rat hepatoma because of promoter methylation and was induced by heavy metals only after demethylation by 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC). Treatment of the tumor-bearing rats with 5-AzaC resulted in significant regression of the hepatoma. When the inhibitor-treated tumor was allowed to grow in a new host, MT-I promoter was remethylated, which suggested de novo methylation. The activities of both de novo (3-fold) and maintenance DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) (5-fold) were higher in the hepatoma than in the host liver. The mRNA levels of the de novo methyltransferases DNMT3a and DNMT3b were 3- and 6-fold higher, respectively, in the tumor implicating transcriptional up-regulation of these two genes in this tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis showed exclusive localization of DNMT3a in the nuclei of both the liver and hepatoma, whereas DNMT3b was detected in the nuclei as well as the cytoplasm. Immunoblot assay showed that the levels of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b proteins in the hepatoma were 5-, 10-, and 4-fold higher, respectively, than in the liver. The mRNA level of the major methyl CpG-binding protein (MeCP2) was 8-fold higher in the tumor compared with the liver. Immunohistochemical studies showed that MeCP2 is localized exclusively in the nuclei of both tissues. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that MeCP2 was associated with the MT-I promoter in the hepatoma implicating its involvement in repressing the methylated promoter. Analysis of the DNA isolated from the liver and hepatoma by RLGS-M (restriction landmark genomic scanning with methylation-sensitive enzyme) (NotI) showed that many genes in addition to MT-I were methylated in the hepatoma. These data demonstrate suppression of the MT-I gene and probably other genes in a solid tumor by promoter methylation and have provided potential molecular mechanisms for the altered methylation profile of the genes in this tumor.

Animals↗

DNA Methylation Analysis by Bisulfite Pyrosequencing of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with Reprogramming Enhanced by Thyroid Hormones.

DNA methylation is a widely studied epigenetic mark which in mammals involves the incorporation of a methyl group to the fifth carbon of cytosines, mainly those belonging to CpG dinucleotides. It has been linked to context-dependent regulatory functions ranging from gene and repetitive DNA silencing to gene body transcriptional activity. Because of its important roles during embryonic development and cell differentiation, DNA methylation can be used to track cell reprogramming by measuring the methylation levels of pluripotency-associated factors. In this scenario, bisulfite pyrosequencing is a simple, robust, and widely used technique which allows for the quantification of DNA methylation levels at small, specific regions of the genome. It involves the amplification and biotin tagging of bisulfite-converted DNA. Single amplified strands are then purified using streptavidin and finally pyrosequenced using a sequencing primer. Thus, it is an ideal method for the quantitative profiling of specific genomic regions, with applications ranging from biomarker discovery and epigenetic clock tracking to omic validation studies.

Animals↗

Regulation of Cdx2 expression by promoter methylation, and effects of Cdx2 transfection on morphology and gene expression of human esophageal epithelial cells.

Caudal-related homeobox 2 (Cdx2) has been suggested as an early marker of Barrett's esophagus (BE), which is the premalignant lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, the mechanism of ectopic Cdx2 expression in the esophageal epithelial cells and its role in the development of BE remained unclear. RT-PCR, pyrosequencing and methylation-specific PCR were used to determine expression and promoter methylation of Cdx2 in human esophageal epithelial cells (HET1A and SEG1) after treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC), acid, bile acids and their combination. HET1A cells with stable transfection of Cdx2 were characterized for morphology and gene expression profiles with Affymetrix array. We found Cdx2 was expressed in most human EAC cell lines, but not in squamous epithelial cell lines. DAC-induced demethylation and expression of Cdx2 in HET1A and SEG1 cells, and treatment with a DNA methylating agent counteracted the effect of DAC. Treatment of HET1A and SEG1 cells with acid, bile acids or both also resulted in promoter demethylation and expression of Cdx2. HET1A cells with stable transfection of human Cdx2 formed crypt-like structures in vitro. Microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR showed that stable transfection of Cdx2 up-regulated differentiation markers of intestinal columnar epithelial cells and goblet cells in HET1A cells. This may be partially due to modulation of Notch signaling pathway, as western blotting confirmed down-regulation of Hes1 and up-regulation of Atoh1 and Muc2. Our data suggest that exposure to acid and/or bile acids may activate Cdx2 expression in human esophageal epithelial cells through promoter demethylation, and ectopic Cdx2 expression in esophageal squamous epithelial cells may contribute to intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus.

Azacitidine↗

X-ray microscopy and imaging of Escherichia coli, LPS and DNA.

Ultrastructural examination by transmission and scanning electron microscopy involves a series of specialized preparation steps which may introduce artefacts in the micrographs. X-ray microscopy can take instant images of specimens but is mostly restricted to a few synchrotron X-ray sources. We have utilized a bench-top nanosecond laser-plasma to produce a single-shot source of nanosecond X-rays tuned for maximum contrast with carbon-rich material. To examine the ultrastructure by absorption profiles, we utilized a laser-produced plasma generated by a single-shot laser (1.06 microns wavelength, 5 x 10(12) W cm-2 intensity) focused on to a silicon target as an X-ray source for high-resolution X-ray microscopy. This approach eliminates the specimen preparation steps. Whole hydrated cells of Escherichia coli and purified preparations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and chromosomal DNA (cDNA) were streaked onto poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-coated grids (resist). This resist was exposed to X-rays under vacuum at a distance of 2.5 cm from the target disc. The silicon plasma produced by a 10-ns burst of laser energy (at 20J) radiates strong emission lines in the region of 300 eV. The X-rays penetrate the sample and their absorption profile is transferred on to the resist where PMMA acts as a negative to generate an image. By atomic force microscopy imaging of this photoresist we have visualized layers around cells of E.coli, darker areas inside the cell probably corresponding to cDNA, and preliminary images of LPS and DNA molecules. This technique has resolution at the 100 A level, produces images similar to the space-filling models of macromolecules and may be of great value in the study of the ultrastructure of hydrated live biological specimens.

DNA, Bacterial↗

Long non-coding RNAs link DNA methylation to immune regulatory networks in bovine subclinical mastitis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of inflammatory and immune signaling, yet their contribution to bovine subclinical mastitis remains poorly defined. Here, we characterized the lncRNA expression landscape associated with disease in milk somatic cells of healthy and subclinical mastitic Vrindavani cattle. We identified 11,403 high-confidence lncRNAs, of which 104 were differentially expressed in subclinical mastitis (adjusted P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05; |log2FC| &#x2265; 1), with the vast majority upregulated in mastitic samples. Predicted cis- and trans-associated target analyses identified 637 non-redundant genes, and KEGG analysis identified 8 significantly enriched cis-associated pathways and 152 significantly enriched trans-associated pathways (adjusted P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), predominantly enriched for immune and inflammation-related pathways. These findings prioritized a subset of mastitis-associated lncRNAs for subsequent methylation and interaction-network analyses. A subset of these lncRNAs further overlapped differentially methylated regions (DMRs), suggesting a potential association between lncRNA expression changes and DNA methylation alterations. Integration of lncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA interactions identified lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction networks involving DMR-associated lncRNAs. Among the prioritized candidates, MSTRG.28878.1 showed overlap with a hypomethylated promoter-associated DMR, increased expression, and multiple connections within the predicted interaction network. Together, these findings identify candidate lncRNAs, methylation-associated loci, and predicted molecular interactions associated with bovine subclinical mastitis and provide a resource for future functional investigation of candidate non-coding RNA-associated mechanisms in disease.

Animals↗

Genetic relatedness of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia isolates from five cystic fibrosis centers in Michigan.

Burkholderia cepacia isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) attending five CF centers were studied for relatedness by cellular fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and by chromosomal DNA restriction analysis. Twenty-eight of 32 (87.5%) isolates tested were grouped in cluster group 1 based on their FAME profiles. DNA analysis revealed that 29 of 32 (90.6%) B. cepacia isolates from five CF centers had one closely related DNA pattern. To examine strain variation over a time period, FAME profiles and DNA patterns of isolates from serial cultures on seven patients from center D were studied. For four patients, all serial B. cepacia isolates belonged to a single FAME cluster group; for the remaining three patients, all serial isolates belonged to any two of the four cluster groups. On serial culture isolates, a single DNA pattern (pattern A) was found in 31 of 32 isolates demonstrating a close genetic relatedness. These data corroborate the observations that the majority of patients colonised with B. cepacia in a CF center harbor strains genetically closely related as determined by FAME profiles and DNA patterns.

Burkholderia cepacia↗

Expression of the Hypermethylated in Cancer gene (HIC-1) is associated with good outcome in human breast cancer.

A new cancer gene, HIC-1 (Hypermethylated in Cancer) telomeric to p53 on chromosome 17p may be of clinical importance in sporadic breast cancer. Regional DNA hypermethylation of 17p13.3 resulting in suppression of gene expression has been shown to precede 17p structural changes in human carcinogenesis. In addition, loss of heterozygosity studies have suggested clinically significant involvement of a gene on 17p13.3 associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. Using RT-PCR analysis, we demonstrate that the MCF7 (wild type p53) cell line expressed HIC-1 transcripts but the MDAMB231 (mutant p53) cell line did not, suggesting loss of HIC-1 expression and p53 malfunction may be synergistic events in sporadic breast cancer. HIC-1 expression was examined using RT-PCR on RNA extracted from 50 primary untreated, human breast cancers and was detected in only 7/50 (14%) cancers. All seven patients with HIC-1 expression were alive without disease recurrence after 8 years follow-up and 5/7 had detectable p53 wild type mRNA expression. This suggests that retained HIC-1 expression may offer a survival advantage. However the seven cancers had 17p13.3 loss of heterozygosity (LOH; four patients), a feature previously associated with poor prognosis, or were homozygous (three patients) suggesting there may be two genes at 17p13.3 involved in breast carcinogenesis. Using a demethylating drug 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DeoxyC), HIC-1 expression was restored in the MDAMB231 cells, also suggesting restoration of HIC-1 function by reversing HIC-1 hypermethylation may offer a therapeutic avenue in breast cancer.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

Temozolomide: a milestone in the pharmacotherapy of brain tumors.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent earlier approved for recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma and approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma in the USA and Europe in 2005. TMZ shows good blood-brain barrier penetration and exhibits a favorable side effect profile. Its key mode of action appears to be methylation at N(7) and O(6)-positions of guanine. The level of expression and activity of the DNA repair enzyme O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase is thought to be a major predictor of response to TMZ. The demonstration of prolonged survival when TMZ was added to radiotherapy in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 26981/22981/NCIC CE.3 trial has been a breakthrough in the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The early preliminary evidence for activity in recurrent malignant gliomas further resulted in a broad evaluation of TMZ for other tumors in neuro-oncology, mainly low-grade gliomas, brain metastases and primary cerebral lymphomas.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗