REVIEW article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Gastrointestinal Cancers: Gastric and Esophageal Cancers
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1543190
DNA methylation in Esophageal Cancer: Technological Advances and Early Detection Clinical Applications
Provisionally accepted
Jiyu Tang1
Xiaoming Shi2,3Wenjing Zhang1
Yan Yan1Chao Song1Linchao Dai1Di Wu1Jie Qiu1Jiahuan Liu1
Zuhong Lu1
WANG TAO4*- 1State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- 2Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- 3Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- 4Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China
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Esophageal cancer (EC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality rates, where early screening and diagnosis are critical for improving patient outcomes. DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification, has emerged as a significant biomarker for early detection of EC. The advancement in DNA methylation sequencing technologies, including first-generation and next-generation sequencing (NGS), has revolutionized the way we identify and analyze these biomarkers. First-generation sequencing, has been instrumental in identifying specific methylation sites. However, its limited throughput renders it impractical for large-scale screening of multiple samples.In contrast, NGS offers high-throughput capabilities, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of thousands of DNA fragments. NGS significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of DNA methylation profiling, permitting genome-wide identification of multiple methylation markers. This approach offers a promising avenue for the enhanced early detection of EC by providing a comprehensive view of the methylation landscape. The integration of NGS into clinical practice is capable of transforming EC screening by offering heightened sensitive and specific approach to identifying patients at risk. As our comprehension of the role of DNA methylation in cancer progression deepens, the development of targeted therapies based on methylation profiles may also become a reality.In conclusion, the evolution of DNA methylation sequencing technologies has unlocked new avenues for the early EC detection. While first-generation sequencing has laid the groundwork for characterizing specific methylation events, NGS has expanded the scope of screening, offering a more robust and scalable solution for identifying early-stage EC.
Keywords: esophageal cancer, Early Screening, DNA Methylation, biomarkers, sequencing technologies, first-generation sequencing, Next-generation sequencing
Received: 11 Dec 2024; Accepted: 16 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Tang, Shi, Zhang, Yan, Song, Dai, Wu, Qiu, Liu, Lu and TAO. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: WANG TAO, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.