title: Role of epigenetic modifications in luminal breast cancer.
abstract: Luminal breast cancers represent approximately 75% of cases. Explanations into the causes of endocrine resistance are complex and are generally ascribed to genomic mechanisms. Recently, attention has been drawn to the role of epigenetic modifications in hormone resistance. We review these here. Epigenetic modifications are reversible, heritable and include changes in DNA methylation patterns, modification of histones and altered microRNA expression levels that target the receptors or their signaling pathways. Large-scale analyses indicate distinct epigenomic profiles that distinguish breast cancers from normal and benign tissues. Taking advantage of the reversibility of epigenetic modifications, drugs that target epigenetic modifiers, given in combination with chemotherapies or endocrine therapies, may represent promising approaches to restoration of therapy responsiveness in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Hany A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hafiz
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.|Department of Pathology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Horwitz
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: breast cancer; epigenetic modifications; estrogen receptors; progesterone receptors