CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?

The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) can be regarded as the most notable emanation of epigenetic instability in cancer. Since its discovery in the late 1990s, CIMP has been extensively studied, mainly in colorectal cancers (CRC) and gliomas. Consequently, knowledge on molecular and pathologica...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Karpiński Paweł, Sąsiadek Maria Małgorzata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/830
_version_ 1797493287636959232
author Karpiński Paweł
Sąsiadek Maria Małgorzata
author_facet Karpiński Paweł
Sąsiadek Maria Małgorzata
author_sort Karpiński Paweł
collection DOAJ
description The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) can be regarded as the most notable emanation of epigenetic instability in cancer. Since its discovery in the late 1990s, CIMP has been extensively studied, mainly in colorectal cancers (CRC) and gliomas. Consequently, knowledge on molecular and pathological characteristics of CIMP in CRC and other tumour types has rapidly expanded. Concordant and widespread hypermethylation of multiple CpG islands observed in CIMP in multiple cancers raised hopes for future epigenetically based diagnostics and treatments of solid tumours. However, studies on CIMP in solid tumours were hampered by a lack of generalisability and reproducibility of epigenetic markers. Moreover, CIMP was not a satisfactory marker in predicting clinical outcomes. The idea of targeting epigenetic abnormalities such as CIMP for cancer therapy has not been implemented for solid tumours, either. Twenty-one years after its discovery, we aim to cover both the fundamental and new aspects of CIMP and its future application as a diagnostic marker and target in anticancer therapies.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T01:17:51Z
format Article
id doaj.art-341b15d4b86440a6b14d3ef6d0e59608
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1661-6596
1422-0067
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T01:17:51Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series International Journal of Molecular Sciences
spelling doaj.art-341b15d4b86440a6b14d3ef6d0e596082023-11-23T14:05:05ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-01-0123283010.3390/ijms23020830CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?Karpiński Paweł0Sąsiadek Maria Małgorzata1Depatment of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandDepatment of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandThe CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) can be regarded as the most notable emanation of epigenetic instability in cancer. Since its discovery in the late 1990s, CIMP has been extensively studied, mainly in colorectal cancers (CRC) and gliomas. Consequently, knowledge on molecular and pathological characteristics of CIMP in CRC and other tumour types has rapidly expanded. Concordant and widespread hypermethylation of multiple CpG islands observed in CIMP in multiple cancers raised hopes for future epigenetically based diagnostics and treatments of solid tumours. However, studies on CIMP in solid tumours were hampered by a lack of generalisability and reproducibility of epigenetic markers. Moreover, CIMP was not a satisfactory marker in predicting clinical outcomes. The idea of targeting epigenetic abnormalities such as CIMP for cancer therapy has not been implemented for solid tumours, either. Twenty-one years after its discovery, we aim to cover both the fundamental and new aspects of CIMP and its future application as a diagnostic marker and target in anticancer therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/830epigeneticsmethylator phenotypeCIMPDNA methylation
spellingShingle Karpiński Paweł
Sąsiadek Maria Małgorzata
CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
epigenetics
methylator phenotype
CIMP
DNA methylation
title CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?
title_full CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?
title_fullStr CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?
title_full_unstemmed CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?
title_short CpG Island Methylator Phenotype—A Hope for the Future or a Road to Nowhere?
title_sort cpg island methylator phenotype a hope for the future or a road to nowhere
topic epigenetics
methylator phenotype
CIMP
DNA methylation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/830
work_keys_str_mv AT karpinskipaweł cpgislandmethylatorphenotypeahopeforthefutureoraroadtonowhere
AT sasiadekmariamałgorzata cpgislandmethylatorphenotypeahopeforthefutureoraroadtonowhere