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Epigenetic changes in cancer

Christine A Iacobuzio-Donahue1

  • 1Departments of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. ciacobu@jhmi.edu

Annual Review of Pathology
|October 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cancer involves epigenetic changes, similar to genetic mutations. This review explores how DNA modifications like methylation drive cancer development, tracing historical insights to current unifying models.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer is recognized as both a genetic and epigenetic disease.
  • Epigenetic alterations frequently act as indicators of genetic mutations in tumors.
  • Normal epigenetic processes include DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, and genomic imprinting, all altered in cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review pervasive epigenetic modifications in human tumors.
  • To trace the historical progression of cancer epigenetics research.
  • To discuss the epigenetic progenitor model as a unifying mechanism for cancer development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epigenetic modifications in human cancers.
  • Historical analysis of key discoveries in cancer epigenetics.
  • Synthesis of current understanding and proposed models of cancer epigenetics.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic alterations are widespread across various human tumors.
  • Significant historical milestones have advanced the field of cancer epigenetics.
  • The epigenetic progenitor model offers a unified perspective on cancer initiation.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic dysregulation is a fundamental aspect of cancer biology.
  • Understanding epigenetic changes is crucial for cancer research and therapy.
  • The epigenetic progenitor model provides a novel framework for comprehending cancer development.

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