Association of vitamin B12/ferritin deficiency in cancer patients with methylomic changes at promotors of TET  methylcytosine dioxygenases.

Aim: To investigate potential DNA methylation in methylcytosine dioxygenases and correlation of TET genes with vitamin B12/ferritin levels in cancer patients. Materials & methods: 200 blood samples were obtained from both cancer patients and healthy individuals. Results: The expression of DNMT1 , DNMT3a and DNMT3b was increased in patients with low vitamin B12 and ferritin levels, while the expression of MTR , TET1 and TET3 significantly decreased. DNA methylation analysis in patients with deficient vitamin B12/ferritin levels showed methylomic changes within the location 318/CG and 385/CG in the promoter region of TET1 and TET3 , respectively. Conclusion: Vitamin B12/ferritin deficiency contributes to DNA methylation progress in cancer patients.