title: Epigenetic dysregulation in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma: disease and treatments.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) comprises nearly 10% of gastric carcinoma cases worldwide. Recently, it was recognised to have unique clinicopathologic characteristics, including male predominance, lower rates of lymph node involvement, and better prognosis. EBVaGC is further characterised by abnormal hypermethylation of tumour suppressor gene promoter regions, causing down-regulation of their expression. In the present review, we critically discuss the role of EBV in gastric carcinogenesis, summarising the role of viral proteins and microRNAs with respect to aberrant methylation in EBVaGC. Given the role of epigenetic dysregulation in tumourigenesis, epigenetic modifiers may represent a novel therapeutic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Tung On Yau, Ceen-Ming Tang, Jun Yu, Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, LKS Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tung On
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.affiliation: Tung On Yau, Ceen-Ming Tang, Jun Yu, Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, LKS Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ceen-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Tung On Yau, Ceen-Ming Tang, Jun Yu, Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, LKS Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Aberrant DNA methylation; Epigenetic dysregulation; Epigenetic therapies; Epstein-Barr virus; Gastric carcinoma