Comment on "Chromosomal Instability and Tumors Promoted by DNA Hypomethylation" and "Induction of Tumors in Mice by Genomic Hypomethylation"

Eden et al. (1) and Gaudet et al. (2) reported increased tumorigenesis in mice with DNA hypomethylation and attributed these results to increased chromosomal instability. Both Gaudet et al. (2) and Lengauer (3) caution that these results could have negative implications for the use of hypomethylating agents in the treatment of cancer. However, we would like to caution against overinterpretation of these papers.