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Epigenetics and Disease pp 25–49Cite as

Genome-Wide Epigenetic Modifications in Cancer

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Part of the book series: Progress in Drug Research ((PDR,volume 67))

Abstract

Epigenetic alterations in cancer include changes in DNA methylation and associated histone modifications that influence the chromatin states and impact gene expression patterns. Due to recent technological advantages, the scientific community is now obtaining a better picture of the genome-wide epigenetic changes that occur in a cancer genome. These epigenetic alterations are associated with chromosomal instability and changes in transcriptional control which influence the overall gene expression differences seen in many human malignancies. In this review, we will briefly summarize our current knowledge of the epigenetic patterns and mechanisms of gene regulation in healthy tissues and relate this to what is known for cancer genomes. Our focus will be on DNA methylation. We will review the current standing of technologies that have been developed over recent years. This field is experiencing a revolution in the strategies used to measure epigenetic alterations, which includes the incorporation of next generation sequencing tools. We also will review strategies that utilize epigenetic information for translational purposes, with a special emphasis on the potential use of DNA methylation marks for early disease detection and prognosis. The review will close with an outlook on challenges that this field is facing.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Christopher Oakes for critical reading of the review. Work in the Division is funded in part by NIH grants CA101956 and DE013123 (C.P.). R.C. is supported by a fellowship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and YJ. P. holds a Roman Herzog Stipend of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Yoon Jung Park, Rainer Claus, Dieter Weichenhan & Christoph Plass

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  1. Yoon Jung Park
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  2. Rainer Claus
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  3. Dieter Weichenhan
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  4. Christoph Plass
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Correspondence to Christoph Plass .

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  1. for Biomedical Research, Part of the Novartis Research Foundation, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Maulbeerstrasse 66, Basel, 4058, Switzerland

    Susan M. Gasser

  2. BioMedical Research Co., Ltd., China Novartis Institutes for, Lane 898 Halei Road, Shanghai, 201203, China, People's Republic

    En Li

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Park, Y.J., Claus, R., Weichenhan, D., Plass, C. (2011). Genome-Wide Epigenetic Modifications in Cancer. In: Gasser, S., Li, E. (eds) Epigenetics and Disease. Progress in Drug Research, vol 67. Springer, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8989-5_2

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