Aberrant DNA methylation plays an essential role in the development and progression of malignant tumors, significantly impacting public health and particularly affecting older adult populations. Through the detection of altered DNA methylation patterns in tissues and body fluids, clinicians can achieve earlier screening, accurate diagnosis, timely disease monitoring, and precise prognosis assessments of malignancies. DNA methylation detection currently represents one of the most promising molecular diagnostic modalities due to its sensitivity, specificity, and superiority over traditional biomarkers, such as gene mutations or protein expression changes. In particular, minimally invasive liquid biopsy methods, exemplified by circulating cell-free DNA methylation assays, have emerged as valuable approaches for early screening and diagnosis. Additionally, innovative techniques such as urinary and fecal DNA methylation tests have shown efficacy in monitoring bladder and colorectal cancer, respectively. As such, DNA methylation technologies offer considerable potential to substantially improve clinical outcomes and public health interventions, especially within aging populations at increased cancer risk.

While DNA methylation detection has advanced significantly in clinical oncology, wider application within clinical practices and public health initiatives remains nascent. Mechanisms underlying epigenetic alterations and their clinical significance still require comprehensive investigation. This research topic aims to compile current evidence and innovative research exploring the practicality, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of DNA methylation assays in the early diagnosis, population-based screening, disease progression monitoring, and prognostication for malignant tumors, with particular emphasis on aging populations. By enhancing our understanding of methylation-based biomarkers, this research initiative aims to facilitate improved public health strategies targeting early cancer detection, informed interventional planning, and effective management strategies in aging demographics.

Contributions to this research topic should address, but are not limited to, the following areas:
o Applications of tissue-based or cytological DNA methylation detection to screening and diagnostic programs for malignant tumors.
o Utility and clinical effectiveness of liquid biopsy-based DNA methylation testing in early tumor screening and diagnosis, emphasizing older adult populations.
o Cost-effectiveness analyses of implementing DNA methylation assays for cancer screening and early diagnosis from a public health perspective.
o Clinical utility of DNA methylation detection technologies for disease monitoring in patients living with malignant tumors.
o Implications of methylation-based biomarkers for monitoring cancer recurrence in survivors.
o Emerging technologies and novel methodological approaches in DNA methylation detection relevant to the aging population.
We strongly encourage submissions that integrate clinical data, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, economic evaluations, and emerging technologies relevant to public health and aging populations.

Please note: Manuscripts that rely solely on bioinformatics or computational analyses of public databases without independent clinical or biological validation (such as validation using independent clinical or patient cohorts, or in vitro or in vivo biological validation) are not suitable for publication in this journal.

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DNA Methylation Detection in Aging Populations: Implications for Early Diagnosis and Prognosis of Malignant Tumors