When it is methylated, the gene turns off. Its role in cancer also has been well-defined, with similar methylation patterns playing a role in colon cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, and head and neck cancers. More than 16,000 people are diagnosed with brain cancer annually in the United States. An additional 13,000 die each year from the disease. Though rare, brain cancers are among the deadliest and most debilitating types of malignancies.
Patients frequently die within months of diagnosis.
The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute. In addition to Herman and Esteller, other researchers were Jesus Garcia-Foncillas, M.D., Ph.D., and Esther Andion, B.Sc., from the University Hospital of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain, Steven N. Goodman, M.D., Ph.D., from Hopkins, Oscar F. Hidalgo, M.D., and Vicente Vanaclocha, M.D., from the University Hospital of Navarre, and Stephen B. Baylin, M.D., from Hopkins. Under a license agreement between the Johns Hopkins University and Virco, Ltd., Drs. Baylin and Herman are entitled to a share of royalty received by the University on sales of products embodying the technology reported in this press release. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by the University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.