Diagnosis of 'Malignant Thyroid Cancer' Becomes More Accurate... DNA Methylation Clues

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] Domestic researchers have newly identified that changes in DNA methylation play a crucial role in the occurrence of thyroid cancer. It is expected to serve as an important basis for developing diagnostic methods and prognostic markers for malignant thyroid cancer. On the 16th, the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced the research results of a joint research team consisting of Dr. Kim Yongseong's team from the Gene Editing Research Center and Professor Jeong Chankwon's pathology team from the Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.

Correlation Between Thyroid Cancer and DNA Methylation Revealed

Comparative Analysis of CpGs Exhibiting Hypermethylation and Hypomethylation in Normal Tissue and Thyroid Cancer Tissue

The research team was the first to reveal that changes in DNA methylation closely influence the development of thyroid cancer. There have been no previous reports clarifying the correlation between thyroid cancer and DNA methylation.

DNA methylation is one of the ways organisms regulate gene expression. Normal cells in the human body contain tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. The promoter region of tumor suppressor genes (the process where DNA genetic information is transcribed into RNA) lacks methyl groups, allowing gene expression to be active.

On the other hand, oncogenes have methyl groups attached, preventing gene expression and thus maintaining a state where cancer cells do not develop. If the promoter DNA of tumor suppressor genes becomes methylated, gene expression is suppressed, whereas if oncogenes are not methylated, cancer cells can develop.

Potential Use as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers for Malignant Thyroid Cancer

Performance Evaluation of Borderline and Malignant Tumor Differentiation Using Three Types of Methylation Biomarkers

The research team also discovered that DNA methylation of enhancers?DNA regions involved in gene expression of certain cells even when located far away?affects the occurrence of thyroid cancer.

In particular, they found that DNA methylation on the MMP7, MICAL2, and DIAPH1 genes occurs at a very high frequency in malignant thyroid cancer. Furthermore, they confirmed that the worse the prognosis type, the higher the DNA methylation levels appear.

Dr. Kim Yongseong stated, "This research outcome reveals that DNA methylation is very closely related to the occurrence and progression of thyroid cancer. The newly identified DNA hypermethylation biomarkers on the MMP7, MICAL2, and DIAPH1 genes are expected to greatly contribute to the development of practical technologies for diagnosing and prognosing malignant thyroid cancer."

Professor Jeong Chankwon said, "If diagnostic methods using DNA methylation biomarkers are introduced into clinical practice, it will improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid nodules, reduce unnecessary retests or surgeries, and serve as biomarkers to assist in prognosis and future treatment decisions for patients who have undergone surgery for thyroid cancer."

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