DNA hypermethylation in tumorigenesis: epigenetics joins genetics

Recently, the concept that epigenetic, as well as genetic, events might be central to the evolution of human cancer is re-emerging. Cancers often exhibit an aberrant methylation of gene promoter regions that is associated with loss of gene function. This DNA change constitutes a heritable state, not...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTrends in Genetics Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 168 - 174
Main Authors Baylin, Stephen B, Herman, James G
Format Book Review Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2000
Elsevier Science
Subjects
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens
chromatin remodeling
DNA Methylation
DNA repair
DNA, Neoplasm
Epigenetics
General aspects
Humans
Hypermethylation
Medical sciences
Methylation
Neoplasms - genetics
Neoplasms - physiopathology
Tumorigenesis
Tumors
Development
Epigenetics
Genetics
Tumorigenesis
Hypermethylation
Methylation
DNA repair
Cancer
Chromatin
Nucleotide sequence
Review
Gene expression
Carcinogenesis
Vertebrata
Regulation(control)
Mammalia
Gene
DNA
Tumor progression
Tumor
Lesion
Mutation
Repair
Tumor suppressor gene
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Summary:Recently, the concept that epigenetic, as well as genetic, events might be central to the evolution of human cancer is re-emerging. Cancers often exhibit an aberrant methylation of gene promoter regions that is associated with loss of gene function. This DNA change constitutes a heritable state, not mediated by altered nucleotide sequence, that appears to be tightly linked to the formation of transcriptionally repressive chromatin. This epigenetic process acts as an alternative to mutations to disrupt tumor-suppressor gene function and can predispose to genetic alterations through inactivating DNA-repair genes. Dissecting the molecular processes that mediate these methylation changes will enhance our understanding of chromatin modeling and gene regulation and might present novel possibilities for cancer therapy. Methylation changes constitute potentially sensitive molecular markers to define risk states, monitor prevention strategies, achieve early diagnosis, and track the prognosis of cancer.
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ISSN:0168-9525
DOI:10.1016/S0168-9525(99)01971-X