Methylation at DNA, RNA and protein levels plays critical roles in many cellular processes and is associated with diverse differentiation events, physiological activities and human diseases. To aid in the diagnostic and therapeutic design for cancer treatment utilising methylation, this review provides a boutique yet comprehensive overview on methylation at different levels including the mechanisms, cross-talking and clinical implications with a particular focus on cancers. We conclude that DNA methylation is the sole type of methylation that has been largely translated into clinics and used for, mostly, early diagnosis. Translating the onco-therapeutic and prognostic values of RNA and protein methylations into clinical use deserves intensive efforts. Simultaneous examination of methylations at multiple levels or together with other forms of molecular markers represents an interesting research direction with profound clinical translational potential.

中文翻译：

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甲基化多样性及其在癌症中的临床价值

DNA、RNA 和蛋白质水平的甲基化在许多细胞过程中起关键作用，并与多种分化事件、生理活动和人类疾病有关。为了帮助利用甲基化进行癌症治疗的诊断和治疗设计，这篇综述提供了一个关于不同水平甲基化的精品而全面的概述，包括机制、交叉对话和临床意义，特别关注癌症。我们得出结论，DNA甲基化是甲基化的唯一类型，已大量转化为临床并主要用于早期诊断。将 RNA 和蛋白质甲基化的肿瘤治疗和预后价值转化为临床应用值得付出努力。