How Does Promoter Hypermethylation Contribute to Cancer?
The silencing of tumor suppressor genes through promoter hypermethylation disrupts normal cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. This disruption can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and survival, contributing to the initiation and progression of cancer. For instance, hypermethylation of the promoter region of the p16INK4a gene, a crucial regulator of the cell cycle, has been frequently observed in various types of cancers.
