Mutations in regulators of the epigenome and their connections to global chromatin patterns in cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epigenetics
• Genomics

Background:

• Malignancies exhibit global epigenetic reprogramming, affecting DNA methylation and histone marks.
• Mutations in genes encoding epigenetic regulators (writers, readers, editors) are frequently observed in cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how mutations in epigenetic regulators contribute to cancer development.
• To explore the deregulation of genes by these mutations.
• To highlight the potential for novel therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cancer epigenetics and genomics.
• Analysis of high-resolution genome-sequencing data for mutations in epigenetic genes.
• Discussion of the functional impact of these mutations on gene regulation.

Main Results:

• Mutations in epigenetic regulators can lead to widespread, genome-wide deregulation of hundreds of target genes.
• These genetic alterations profoundly impact epigenetic patterns in cancer cells.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the networks of epigenetic factors is crucial for deciphering the interplay between genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer.
• Elucidation of these mechanisms will pave the way for developing novel epigenetic therapies for malignancies.