Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation
Published on: January 2, 2009
Role of epigenetics in cancer initiation and progression
Flora Chik1, Moshe Szyf, Shafaat A Rabbani
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. flora.chik@mail.mcgill.ca
Abstract:
The epigenome which comprises DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin structures and non-coding RNAs controls gene expression patterns. In cancer cells, there are aberrant changes in the epigenome. The question in cancer epigenetics is that whether these changes are the cause of cell transformation, or rather the consequence of it. We will discuss the epigenetic phenomenon in cancer, as well as the recent interests in the epigenetic reprogramming events, and their implications in the cancer stem cell theory. We will also look at the progression of cancers as they become more aggressive, with focus on the role of epigenetics in tumor metastases exemplified with the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system. Last but not least, with therapeutics intervention in mind, we will highlight the importance of balance in the design of epigenetic based anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.
More Related Videos
10:41An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
Published on: April 5, 2018
09:16Investigation of the Transcriptional Role of a RUNX1 Intronic Silencer by CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells
Published on: September 1, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic Regulation
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell