5-Methylcytosine content of nuclear DNA during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis and in carcinomas which result.

The 5-methylcytosine content of nuclear DNA from nuclear hepatocellular tissues was determined during various phases of hepatic regeneration and carcinogenesis. DNA from premalignant nodules and primary hepatocellular carcinomas induced by exposure to acetylaminofluorene, as well as PHC induced by diethylnitrosamine was undermethylated by 20%, 45%, and 32.5% respectively. Since a 12.5% hypomethylation occurred during the DNA synthetic phase of hepatic regeneration, the effect of cell proliferation on DNA-methylation in malignancies was examined in transplantable hepatocellular carcinomas. The DNA from two transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma lines was less methylated than predicted rates of cell division in these tumors. This finding suggested that an aberration in endogenous DNA methylation may occur during neoplastic transformation.