Liu Peiyi, Jacques Juliette, Hwang Chang-Il
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Epigenomes. 2024 Nov 3;8(4):41. doi: 10.3390/epigenomes8040041.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, characterized by its aggressive progression and dismal prognosis. Advances in epigenetic profiling, specifically DNA methylation analysis, have significantly deepened our understanding of PDAC pathogenesis. This review synthesizes findings from recent genome-wide DNA methylation studies, which have delineated a complex DNA methylation landscape differentiating between normal and cancerous pancreatic tissues, as well as across various stages and molecular subtypes of PDAC. These studies identified specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that not only enhance our grasp of the epigenetic drivers of PDAC but also offer potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis, enabling the customization of therapeutic approaches. The review further explores how DNA methylation profiling could facilitate the development of subtype-tailored therapies, potentially improving treatment outcomes based on precise molecular characterizations. Overall, leveraging DNA methylation alterations as functional biomarkers holds promise for advancing our understanding of disease progression and refining PDAC management strategies, which could lead to improved patient outcomes and a deeper comprehension of the disease's underlying biological mechanisms.
胰腺导管腺癌（PDAC）仍然是最致命的恶性肿瘤之一，其特点是进展迅速且预后不佳。表观遗传学分析的进展，特别是DNA甲基化分析，显著加深了我们对PDAC发病机制的理解。本综述综合了近期全基因组DNA甲基化研究的结果，这些研究描绘了一个复杂的DNA甲基化图谱，该图谱区分了正常胰腺组织和癌性胰腺组织，以及PDAC的各个阶段和分子亚型。这些研究确定了特定的差异甲基化区域（DMRs），这些区域不仅增强了我们对PDAC表观遗传驱动因素的理解，还提供了早期诊断和预后的潜在生物标志物，从而能够定制治疗方法。该综述进一步探讨了DNA甲基化谱如何促进亚型特异性疗法的开发，基于精确的分子特征可能改善治疗结果。总体而言，将DNA甲基化改变用作功能生物标志物有望推进我们对疾病进展的理解，并完善PDAC管理策略，这可能会改善患者预后并更深入地理解该疾病的潜在生物学机制。
