Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42664336›Full record

ArticleScience advances2026

Tracking breast cancer progression using Methylscape.

Zhen Zhang, Emtiaz Ahmed, Nicolas Constantin, Jennifer Lu, Stephanie Portelli, David B Ascher, Darren Korbie, Alain Wuethrich, Abu Ali Ibn Sina, Matt Trau

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Zhen ZhangCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5766-3468
Emtiaz AhmedCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4984-9385
Nicolas ConstantinCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8002-8668
Jennifer LuCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1777-4788
Stephanie PortelliSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3515-4301
David B AscherSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2948-2413
Darren KorbieCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5033-914X
Alain WuethrichCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9569-0478
Abu Ali Ibn SinaCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8099-3863
Matt TrauCentre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5516-1280

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer progression is driven by epigenetic reprogramming, where promoter hypermethylation of tumour-suppressor genes and global hypomethylation reshape gene regulation and cellular phenotypes, promoting oncogenesis and disease advancement. We previously introduced the Methylscape, a cancer-specific DNA methylation landscape characterized by clustered promoter hypermethylation and gene body hypomethylation that enhances DNA's physical affinity for gold surfaces. Here, we demonstrate that Methylscape can be leveraged to monitor cancer progression. In a TGF-β-induced breast cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model, we observe increased Methylscape enrichment of mesenchymal-state DNA, indicating that this method can sensitively detect subtle epigenetic remodelling linked to tumour progression. Using a gold-based DNA desorption enrichment strategy coupled with methylation sequencing and qPCR, we show that hypermethylated regions are preferentially enriched on gold surface. Finally, we developed a low-cost, disposable screen-printed electrode platform for stage-specific breast cancer monitoring. Together, these findings establish Methylscape as a promising biophysical biomarker for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of cancer progression, advancing its potential for clinical translation.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsDNA MethylationAnimalsCell Line, TumorDisease ProgressionEpigenesis, GeneticEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGoldHumansPromoter Regions, GeneticTransforming Growth Factor betaGoldTransforming Growth Factor beta

Identifiers

PMID42664336
PMCPMC13524039

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.