Retinoids and epigenetic silencing in cancer.
An epigenetic event alters the activity of genes without changing their structure. Methylation reactions are important mediators of epigenetic events in cells. Two recent studies have established a mechanistic link between a vitamin A metabolite and epigenetic alterations of its target promoter that could provide insights about the role of vitamin A in cancer prevention.
D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012176:Retinoids