Epigenomic reprogramming of therapy-resistant circulating tumor cells in colon cancer

Therapy resistance is a major limitation for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, are involved in the development of acquired resistance during treatment. The aim of this work was to characterize the DNA methylation landscape of colon CTCs during cancer progression and the development of therapy resistance. We analyzed nine permanent colon CTC-derived cell lines, which were collected at baseline (CTC-MCC-41) and during treatment and cancer progression (CTC-MCC-41.4 and CTC-MCC-41.5 [A-G]) from peripheral blood samples of a patient with metastatic colon cancer. The DNA methylome of these nine CTC lines was analyzed by EPIC arrays. We analyzed nine permanent colon CTC-derived cell lines, which were collected at baseline (CTC-MCC-41) and during treatment and cancer progression (CTC-MCC-41.4 and CTC-MCC-41.5 [A-G]) from peripheral blood samples of a patient with metastatic colon cancer. The DNA methylome of these nine CTC lines was analyzed by EPIC arrays.