title: Methods in cancer epigenetics and epidemiology.
abstract: Cancer cells are characterized by epigenetic dysregulation, including global genome hypomethylation, regional hypo- and hypermethylation, histone modifications, and disturbed genomic imprinting. These alterations can be used as markers in cancer epidemiology to assess risk as well as follow-up of the disease. Some of the methylation markers can be assayed on microarray chips on which a very small amount of sample is needed, and the assays are robust and the markers have high specificity and sensitivity. Implication of epigenetic markers in cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, control, and cancer epidemiology is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment