Table 2 The DNA methylation disorder of CSCs in distinct cancers
Cancer types | The measures taken to target DNA methylation | Dysregulation in cancer | Effects generated on CSCs and tumors |
|---|---|---|---|
GBM | knock down SOX2 | increase the methylation level of the NOTCH1 promoter | inhibit Notch signal transduction and hinder tumor invasion [80] |
HCC | use DNMT1 inhibitor (zebularine); utilize miR-135a to target DNMT1 | reduce the methylation of BEX1 promoter; lower the methylation level of the NANOG promoter | induce the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promote the stemness of HCC [144]; enhance the CSC capability of tumor cells and regulate the transition from non-CSCs to CSCs [145] |
CRC | use DNMT inhibitor (5-AzaDC) | down-regulate hypermethylation of SFRP1 | inhibit the aggregation and stemness of CSC and hinder the invasion and distant metastasis of CRC [146] |