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Aberrant epigenetic landscape in cancer: how cellular identity goes awry

María Berdasco1, Manel Esteller

  • 1Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Developmental Cell
|November 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic factors like DNA methylation and histone modifications are crucial for cell identity and development. Deregulation of these epigenetic patterns contributes to human diseases, including cancer, and potential therapeutic strategies are explored.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cell identity relies on precise DNA methylation and histone modification patterns.
  • Aberrant epigenetic regulation is implicated in human diseases, particularly cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of epigenetic factors in normal development and tissue-specific gene regulation.
  • To summarize epigenetic alterations in human cancer.
  • To discuss potential therapeutic strategies for reversing cancer-associated epigenetic changes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epigenetic mechanisms.
  • Analysis of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA regulation.
  • Examination of epigenetic roles in normal development and cancer.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic factors are essential for maintaining cell identity and regulating tissue-specific genes during development.
  • Cancer development involves significant disruption of normal epigenetic patterns.
  • Pharmacological and genetic approaches may offer ways to 'reset' the cancer epigenome.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamental to normal development and disease.
  • Understanding epigenetic dysregulation in cancer is key to developing new therapies.
  • Targeting the epigenome presents a promising avenue for cancer treatment.

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