Epigenetic mechanisms in glioblastoma multiforme.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and lethal cancer, accounting for the majority of primary brain tumors in adults. GBMs are characterized by genetic alterations large and small, affecting genes that control cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and invasion. Epigenetic alterations also affect the expression of cancer genes alone, or in combination with genetic mechanisms. For example, in each GBM, hundreds of genes are subject to DNA hypermethylation at their CpG island promoters. A subset of GBMs is also characterized by locus-specific and genome-wide decrease in DNA methylation, or DNA hypomethylation. Other epigenetic alterations, such as changes in the position of histone variants and changes in histone modifications are also likely important in the molecular pathology of GBM, but somewhat surprisingly there are very limited data about these in GBM. Alterations in histone modifications are especially important to understand, given that histone deacetylases are targets for drugs that are in clinical trial for GBMs. The technological wave of next-generation sequencing will accelerate GBM epigenome profiling, allowing the direct integration of DNA methylation, histone modification and gene expression profiles. Ultimately, genomic and epigenomic data should provide new predictive markers of response and lead to more effective therapies for GBM.
Brain Tumor Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Raman P
RP
Nagarajan
Joseph F
JF
Costello
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes