An epigenetic signature of advanced colorectal cancer metastasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The majority of CRC deaths are caused by tumor metastasis, even following treat-ment. There is strong evidence for epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, accompanying CRC metastasis and poorer patient survival. Earlier detection and a better understanding of molecular drivers for CRC metastasis are of critical clin-ical importance. Here, we identify a signature of advanced CRC metastasis by per-forming whole genome-scale DNA methylation and full transcriptome analyses of paired primary cancers and liver metastases from CRC patients. We observed striking methylation differences between primary and metastatic pairs. A subset of loci showed coordinated methylation-expression changes, suggesting these are potentially epigenetic drivers that control the expression of critical genes in the metastatic cascade. The identification of CRC epigenomic markers of metastasis has the potential to enable better outcome prediction and lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets.

Automated summary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health issue, with metastasis being a major cause of poor prognosis. This study investigated the epigenetic changes associated with CRC metastasis by analyzing DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of primary cancers and liver metastases. The researchers identified specific epigenetic drivers that may control the expression of critical genes in the metastatic cascade. These findings have the potential to improve outcome prediction and identify new therapeutic targets for CRC metastasis.