Edited by: Paul Smaglik
J.G. Herman, A. Merlo, L. Mao, R.G. Lapidus, J.J. Issa, N.E. Davidson, D. Sidransky, S.B. Baylin, "Inactivation of the CDKN2/p16/MTS1 gene is frequently associated with aberrant DNA methylation in all common human cancers," Cancer Research, 55:4525-30, 1995. (Cited in more than 145 publications through October 1997)
Comments by James G. Herman and Stephen B. Baylin, Johns Hopkins University Oncology Center
During the high-profile days of genome building and gene sequencing, cancer researchers often identified genes with specific functions as if they were biological on/off switches. However, scientists now are finding that the mechanisms may be more complicated. Biochemistry's role in the activation or inactivation of genes has emerged from the shadows of mutations, as scientists are beginning to discern that both processes share important roles in causing cancer.
ANOTHER MECHANISM: Johns Hopkins' James Herman says aberrant methylation can lead to the loss of the p16 gene's ...
