Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40102611›Full record

ArticleOncogene2025

Comprehensive metabolomic and epigenomic characterization of microsatellite stable BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.

Aurora Taira, Mervi Aavikko, Riku Katainen, Eevi Kaasinen, Niko Välimäki, Janne Ravantti, Ari Ristimäki, Toni T Seppälä, Laura Renkonen-Sinisalo, Anna Lepistö and 11 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Oncogene, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Aurora TairaMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1179-8500
Mervi AavikkoMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Riku KatainenMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Eevi KaasinenMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Niko VälimäkiMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Janne RavanttiMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Ari RistimäkiApplied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Toni T SeppäläApplied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Laura Renkonen-SinisaloApplied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Anna LepistöApplied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Kyösti TahkolaDepartment of Surgery, The Wellbeing Services of Central Finland, Hoitajatie 1, 40620, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Anne MattilaDepartment of Surgery, The Wellbeing Services of Central Finland, Hoitajatie 1, 40620, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Selja KoskensaloThe HUCH Gastrointestinal Clinic, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, 00280, Finland.
Jukka-Pekka MecklinDepartment of Education and Research, The Wellbeing Services of Central Finland, Hoitajatie 1, 40620, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Jan BöhmDepartment of Pathology, The Wellbeing Services of Central Finland, Hoitajatie 1, 40620, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Jesper Bertram BramsenDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200, Aarhus, Denmark.
Claus Lindbjerg AndersenDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7406-2103
Kimmo PalinMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4621-6128
Kristiina RajamäkiMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-1220
Lauri A AaltonenMedicum/Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland. lauri.aaltonen@helsinki.fi.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6839-4286
iCAN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Oncogenic codon V600E mutations of the BRAF gene affect 10-15% of colorectal cancers, resulting in activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and increased cell proliferation and survival. BRAF-mutated colorectal tumors are often microsatellite unstable and characterized by high DNA methylation levels. However, the mechanistic link between BRAF mutations and hypermethylation remains controversial. Understanding this link, particularly in microsatellite stable tumors is of great interest as these often show poor survival. We characterized the metabolomic, epigenetic and transcriptomic patterns of altogether 39 microsatellite stable BRAF-mutated colorectal cancers. Metabolomic analysis of tumor tissue showed low levels of vitamin C and its metabolites in BRAF-mutated tumors. Gene expression analysis indicated dysregulation of vitamin C antioxidant activity in these lesions. As vitamin C is an important cofactor for the activity of TET DNA demethylase enzymes, low vitamin C levels could directly contribute to the high methylation levels in these tumors by decreasing enzymatic TET activity. Vitamin C transporter gene SLC23A1 expression, as well as vitamin C metabolite levels, were inversely correlated with DNA methylation levels. This work proposes a new mechanistic link between BRAF mutations and hypermethylation, inspiring further work on the role of vitamin C in the genesis of BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsMutationProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafAgedAscorbic AcidDNA MethylationEpigenesis, GeneticEpigenomicsFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMetabolomicsMicrosatellite InstabilityMicrosatellite RepeatsMiddle AgedAscorbic AcidBRAF protein, humanProto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf

Identifiers

PMID40102611
PMCPMC12122379

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.