title: The role of epigenetics in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) results from a stepwise accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that transform the normal colonic epithelium into cancer. DNA methylation represents one of the most studied epigenetic marks in CRC, and three common epigenotypes have been identified characterized by high, intermediate and low methylation profiles, respectively. Combining DNA methylation data with gene mutations and cytogenetic alterations occurring in CRC is nowadays allowing the characterization of different CRC subtypes, but the crosstalk between DNA methylation and other epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone tail modifications and the deregulated expression of non-coding RNAs is not yet clearly defined. Epigenetic biomarkers are increasingly recognized as promising diagnostic and prognostic tools in CRC, and the potential of therapeutic applications aimed at targeting the epigenome is under investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coppedè
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006657:Histones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006657:Histones
keywords: DNA methylation; colorectal cancer; epigenetics; epigenotype; histone acetylation; histone methylation; histone tail modification; miRNA; non-coding RNA