Value of methylation markers in colorectal cancer (Review)

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial and multistage process that occurs due to both genetic and epigen- etic variations in normal epithelial cells. Analysis of the CRC epigenome has revealed that almost all CRC types have a large number of abnormally methylated genes. Hypermethylation of cell-free DNA from CRC in the blood or stool is considered as a potential non-invasive cancer biomarker, and various meth- ylation markers have shown high sensitivity and specificity. The aim of the present review was to examine potential meth- ylation markers in CRC that have been used or are expected to be used in the clinical setting, focusing on their screening, predictive, prognostic and therapeutic roles in CRC.