title: Epigenetic dysregulation in cancer.
abstract: One of the great paradoxes in cellular differentiation is how cells with identical DNA sequences differentiate into so many different cell types. The mechanisms underlying this process involve epigenetic regulation mediated by alterations in DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications, and nucleosome remodeling. It is becoming increasingly clear that disruption of the "epigenome" as a result of alterations in epigenetic regulators is a fundamental mechanism in cancer. This has major implications for the future of both molecular diagnostics as well as cancer chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Muntean
authors.forename: Jay L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational