Epigenetic events in malignant melanoma.
Irreversible changes in the DNA sequence, including chromosomal deletions or amplification, activating or inactivating mutations in genes, have been implicated in the development and progression of melanoma. However, increasing attention is being turned towards the participation of 'epigenetic' events in melanoma progression that do not affect DNA sequence, but which nevertheless may lead to stable inherited changes in gene expression. Epigenetic events including histone modifications and DNA methylation play a key role in normal development and are crucial to establishing the correct program of gene expression. In contrast, mistargeting of such epigenetic modifications can lead to aberrant patterns of gene expression and loss of anti-cancer checkpoints. Thus, to date at least 50 genes have been reported to be dysregulated in melanoma by aberrant DNA methylation and accumulating evidence also suggests that mistargetting of histone modifications and altered chromatin remodeling activities will play a key role in melanoma. This review gives an overview of the many different types of epigenetic modifications and their involvement in cancer and especially in melanoma development and progression.
Rothhammer
Tanja
T
Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg Medical School, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
Bosserhoff
Anja-Katrin
AK
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018450:Disease Progression; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D006657:Histones