title: Epigenetics makes its mark on women-specific cancers--an opportunity to redefine oncological approaches?
abstract: Over the past decade it has become clear that cancer is an epigenetic and a genetic disease. While we have begun to understand the impact of variations in the DNA sequence on cancer development, it is only more recently that we have appreciated the significant contribution of the epigenome to carcinogenesis and cancer biology. Twin studies demonstrate that genetics makes little contribution to the development of women-specific cancers and that the 'epigenome,' the interphase between genome and environment, is likely to confer the largest component of risk. Epigenetic factors can therefore act as surrogate markers of disease risk that could potentially facilitate tailored treatment and refine preventive measures. This review focuses attention on DNA methylation-a core epigenetic mechanism that can be readily detected in body fluids and has the potential to substantially reform cancer screening and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's Cancer, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, UK. Electronic address: M.Widschwendter@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Widschwendter
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's Cancer, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Statistical Genomics Group, Paul O'Gorman Building, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Teschendorff
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D019175:DNA Methylation; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers