Research progress on DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with high incidence and morbidity worldwide. The pathogenesis and progression of HCC are closely related to abnormal epigenetic regulation of hepatocytes. DNA methylation is an important regulatory mechanism in epigenetics which has been deeply and widely investigated. Along with the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques, including high-throughput gene chip analysis and next generation sequencing, great progress was achieved toward the understanding of the epigenetic regulation of HCC. In this article we will systematically summarize the current and emerging research on DNA methylation in HCC.