DNA methylation patterns are frequently altered in cancer cells as compared to normal cells. A large body of research associates these DNA methylation aberrations with cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, cancer cells seem to depend upon these aberrant DNA methylation profiles to thrive. Finally, DNA methylation modifications are reversible, highlighting the potential to target the global methylation patterns for cancer therapy. In this review, we will discuss the scientific and clinical aspects of DNA methylation in cancer. We will review the limited success of targeting DNA methylation in the clinic, the associated clinical challenges, the impact of novel DNA methylation inhibitors and how combination therapies are improving patient outcomes.

中文翻译：

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DNA脱甲基剂在癌症治疗中的作用。

与正常细胞相比，DNA甲基化模式在癌细胞中经常发生变化。大量的研究将这些DNA甲基化异常与癌症的发生和发展联系在一起。此外，癌细胞似乎依赖于这些异常的DNA甲基化谱来壮成长。最后，DNA甲基化修饰是可逆的，从而突出了针对癌症治疗的总体甲基化模式的潜力。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论癌症中DNA甲基化的科学和临床方面。我们将审查在临床中靶向DNA甲基化的有限成功，相关的临床挑战，新型DNA甲基化抑制剂的影响以及联合疗法如何改善患者预后。