title: Compendium of aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications in cancer.
abstract: Epigenetics now refers to the study or research field related to DNA methylation and histone modifications. Historically, global DNA hypomethylation was first revealed in 1983, and, after a decade, silencing of a tumor suppressor gene by regional DNA hypermethylation was reported. After the proposal of the histone code in the 2000s, alterations of histone methylation were also identified in cancers. Now, it is established that aberrant epigenetic alterations are involved in cancer development and progression, along with mutations and chromosomal losses. Recent cancer genome analyses have revealed a large number of mutations of epigenetic modifiers, supporting their important roles in cancer pathogenesis. Taking advantage of the reversibility of epigenetic alterations, drugs targeting epigenetic regulators and readers have been developed for restoration of normal pattern of the epigenome, and some have already demonstrated clinical benefits. In addition, DNA methylation of specific marker genes can be used as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, including risk diagnosis, detection of cancers, and pathophysiological diagnosis. In this paper, we will summarize the major concepts of cancer epigenetics, placing emphasis on history.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.affiliation: Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. Electronic address: tushijim@ncc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ushijima
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000266:history*; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history* / Q000378:metabolism; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006657:Histones
keywords: Cancer; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Histone modification