title: Epigenetics and genetics in endometrial cancer: new carcinogenic mechanisms and relationship with clinical practice.
abstract: Endometrial cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide among females. An increased incidence and a younger age of patients are also predicted to occur, and therefore elucidation of the pathological mechanisms is important. However, several aspects of the mechanism of carcinogenesis in the endometrium remain unclear. Associations with genetic mutations of cancer-related genes have been shown, but these do not provide a complete explanation. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms have been examined. Silencing of genes by DNA hypermethylation, hereditary epimutation of DNA mismatch repair genes and regulation of gene expression by miRNAs may underlie carcinogenesis in endometrial cancer. New therapies include targeting epigenetic changes using histone deacetylase inhibitors. Some cases of endometrial cancer may also be hereditary. Thus, patients with Lynch syndrome which is a hereditary disease, have a higher risk for developing endometrial cancer than the general population. Identification of such disease-related genes may contribute to early detection and prevention of endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinanomachi 35 Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. kbanno@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Banno
authors.forename: Iori
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kisu
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanokura
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Arisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Susumu
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1