title: Seed in soil, with an epigenetic view.
abstract: It is becoming increasingly evident that discrete genetic alterations in neoplastic cells alone cannot explain multistep carcinogenesis whereby tumor cells are able to express diverse phenotypes during the complex phases of tumor development and progression. The epigenetic model posits that the host microenvironment exerts an initial, inhibitory constraint on tumor growth that is followed by acceleration of tumor progression through complex cell-matrix interactions. This review emphasizes the epigenetic aspects of breast cancer development in light of such interactions between epithelial cells ("seed") and the tumor microenvironment ("soil"). Our recent research findings suggest that epigenetic perturbations induced by the tumor microenvironment may play a causal role in promoting breast cancer development. It is believed that abrogation of these initiators could offer a promising therapeutic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, Columbus, USA. huey-jen.lin@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Huey-Jen L
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Zhengang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Asamoto
authors.forename: Sonya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Tim H-M
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology