Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
12:13

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients

Published on: November 19, 2019

6.9K

Epigenetic and Epitranscriptomic Control in Prostate Cancer

Judith López1,2, Ana M Añazco-Guenkova1,2, Óscar Monteagudo-García1,2

  • 1Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.

Genes
|February 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic dysregulation, including DNA and RNA modifications, are key drivers in prostate cancer initiation and progression, alongside traditional genetic alterations. This review highlights these non-mutational events in prostate cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Prostate cancer initiation is linked to genetic changes like DNA copy-number alterations, chromosomal losses, gene fusions, and driver mutations (e.g., Androgen Receptor).
  • Non-mutational events, specifically epigenetic and epitranscriptomic dysregulation, are increasingly recognized as critical factors in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular changes associated with epigenetic and epitranscriptomic dysregulation in prostate cancer.
  • To elucidate the role of DNA and RNA modifications in prostate cancer initiation and progression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on prostate cancer molecular alterations.
  • Analysis of research focusing on epigenetic and epitranscriptomic changes.
  • Synthesis of findings on DNA and RNA modifications in tumorigenesis.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic dysregulation (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modifications) impacts gene expression critical for prostate cancer.
  • Epitranscriptomic alterations (e.g., RNA modifications like m6A) influence RNA stability, translation, and function, contributing to cancer.
  • These non-mutational events interact with genetic factors to drive prostate cancer initiation and progression.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic alterations are fundamental to understanding prostate cancer development.
  • Targeting these molecular changes offers potential new therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.
Keywords:
DNA methylationRNA modificationsepigeneticsepitranscriptomicshistone modificationsnovel therapeuticsprostate cancer

More Related Videos

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues11:29

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues

Published on: September 8, 2015

11.0K
Laser-capture Microdissection of Human Prostatic Epithelium for RNA Analysis07:42

Laser-capture Microdissection of Human Prostatic Epithelium for RNA Analysis

Published on: November 26, 2015

13.6K

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
3.2K
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
23.6K
Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors01:52

Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors

Certain biochemical processes, such as embryonic development and cell growth regulation, depend on the repression of specific genes. DNA binding proteins known as eukaryotic transcription inhibitors regulate the repression of gene expression in eukaryotes. The presence of these inhibitors at the required location and time in the cell is triggered by the presence of hormones and additional signals from other cells.
Eukaryotic transcription inhibitors usually contain two distinct domains, a...
10.1K
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
1.1K
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
35.4K
What is Gene Expression?01:36

What is Gene Expression?

A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised  of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then...
9.4K