DNA methylation profiling of normal, precursor lesion and cholangiocarcinoma samples

A detailed understanding of the molecular alterations in the course of cholangiocarcinogenesis is crucial for a better understanding of this disease and may pave the way to early diagnosis and better treatment options for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients. We analyzed a clinicopathologically well-characterized patient cohort with intraductal papillary (IPNB) or tubulopapillary biliary (ITPN) precursor lesions of the biliary tract. For a large subset of patients, the triplet sample set of non-neoplastic biliary epithelium, IPNB or ITPN, and invasive CCA was available. We conducted genome wide DNA methylation analyses of non-neoplastic bile duct, IPNB or ITPN and invasive CCA.