Epigenetic mechanisms of breast cancer: an update of the current knowledge

• Published in: Epigenomics Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 651 - 664
• Main Authors: Karsli-Ceppioglu, Seher, Dagdemir, Aslihan, Judes, Gaëlle, Ngollo, Marjolaine, Penault-Llorca, Frédérique, Pajon, Amaury, Bignon, Yves-Jean, Bernard-Gallon, Dominique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Medicine Ltd 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Development and progression; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetic inheritance; epigenetic therapy; epigenetics; estrogen; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; histone modification; Histones - metabolism; Humans; estrogen; histone modification; DNA methylation; breast cancer; BRCA1; epigenetics; EZH2; epigenetic therapy
• ISSN: 1750-1911; 1750-192X
• DOI: 10.2217/epi.14.59

Epigenetic alterations are heritable changes in gene expression that occur without causing any change in DNA sequence. They are important key factors for cancer development and prognosis. Breast cancer is induced by the accumulation of altered gene regulation. Besides genetic mutations, epigenetics mechanisms have an important role in breast cancer tumorigenesis. Investigations related with aberrant epigenetic regulations in breast cancer focus on initiating molecular mechanisms in cancer development, identification of new biomarkers to predict breast cancer aggressiveness and the potential of epigenetic therapy. In this review, we will summarize the recent knowledge about the role of epigenetic alterations related with DNA methylation and histone modification in breast cancer. In addition, altered regulation of breast cancer specific genes and the potential of epigenetic therapy will be discussed according to epigenetic mechanisms.