HYPERMETHYLATION OF THE MYF-3 GENE IN HUMAN COLORECTAL-CANCER

Abnormal methylation of DNA is one of the earliest detectable changes in human tumours. We investigated hypermethylation of the Myf-3 gene, the human homolog of the mouse myogenic gene Myo-D1, in colorectal ade nomas and adenocarcinomas. Histologically normal gut mucosa from color ectal cancer patients showed moderately higher levels of methylation t han in other normal tissues. Varying degrees of Myf-3 hypermethylation were found in all five adenomas and eight adenocarcinomas examined. C arcinomas arising from within adenomas generally showed a decrease in both the heterogeneity and intensity of Myf-3 methylation. Regional hy permethylation of this gene therefore appears to be an early event in human colorectal neoplasia.