Can Promoter Hypermethylation Be Used as a Biomarker for Cancer?
Yes, promoter hypermethylation patterns can serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. For example, the detection of hypermethylated genes in body fluids, such as blood or urine, can provide non-invasive methods for early cancer detection. The hypermethylation of genes like MGMT in gliomas has prognostic value and can also predict the response to certain therapies.
