Korean J Gastroenterol.  2004 Jul;44(1):1-12.

Cancer Epigenetics

Affiliations
  • 1GI Cancer Research Lab, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. dongc@BaylorHealth.edu

Abstract

Knowledge regarding molecular events of cancer development has been rapidly accumulated during the last decade. The discovery of tumor suppressor gene-silencing by aberrant promoter CpG island hypermethylation and histone-directed chromatin remodeling has led epigenetics to its recognition as an important alternative mechanism for carcinogenesis. Epigenetics does not involve changes in nucleotide sequences, but it affects on genetic composition in many ways. Cancer cells integratively co-opt genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to acquire different aspects of carcinogenetic phenotypes. Since epigenetic changes can be reversed with relative ease, the research of cancer epigenetics provides great potential for new therapeutic regimens.

Keyword

Cancer epigenetics; CpG island hypermethylation; CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP); Loss of imprinting; Histone code

MeSH Terms

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
CpG Islands/genetics
DNA Methylation
English Abstract
Gene Silencing
Genes, Tumor Suppressor
Genomic Imprinting
Humans
Neoplasms/*genetics
Promoter Regions (Genetics)
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