What are the Challenges in Studying Methylation Profiles in Cancer?
Studying methylation profiles in cancer faces several challenges:
- Heterogeneity: Cancer is highly heterogeneous, and methylation patterns can vary significantly between patients and even within different regions of the same tumor. - Technical Limitations: While technologies like WGBS provide comprehensive data, they are also expensive and require substantial computational resources. - Interpretation: Differentiating between driver and passenger methylation changes can be challenging, making it difficult to identify clinically relevant alterations.
