From:  Genetic and epigenetic landscape of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT): implications for DNA repair and cancer therapeutics

 Comparative landscape of MGMT methylation and expression across cancer types-A pan-cancer insight into prognostic and therapeutic implications

Cancer typeMGMT methylation/expressionClinical relevance
Glioblastoma [81, 82]Hypermethylated (> 50%)Predicts temozolomide (TMZ) response, better OS
Colorectal cancer [83]Hypermethylated (> 50%)Associated with MSI, chemosensitivity
Cervical cancer [6]Hypermethylated (> 60%)Increased risk, poor survival, and non-responsiveness to cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy
Lung cancer [84]VariableLinked to prognosis, but less consistent
Head and neck cancer [85]Hypermethylated (> 47%)Loss of function, tumor progression, and resistance to alkylating agents
Breast cancer [14]Hypermethylated (> 40%)Better response to cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin followed by taxane
Pancreatic cancer [86]Down-regulatedIncreased response to streptozocin (alkylating agents)
Pituitary cancer [87]Hypermethylated (> 40%) and down-regulatedTumor aggressiveness and response to TMZ
Spinal glioma [88]Hypermethylated and downregulated
Unmethylated and upregulated
Better response to TMZ
Response to TMZ + cisplatin
Osteosarcoma [89]Hypermethylated and downregulatedIncreased progression but better response to chemotherapy
Esophageal cancer [90]Loss of MGMTPromoting malignant transformation and metastatic potential
Melanoma [91]HypermethylatedBetter response to TMZ in metastatic melanoma
Ovarian cancer [92]Hypermethylated with down-regulationTumor progression and aggressiveness
Thyroid cancer [93]Loss of MGMTTumor development and progression

MGMT: O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase; MSI: microsatellite instability