title: Update on melanoma epigenetics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Over the last years, our understanding in molecular biology of melanoma has grown significantly and many genetic alterations have been identified affecting melanoma pathogenesis. This growing evidence has led to the development of targeted therapies which are showing promising clinical results. In addition to genetic alterations, an increasing number of studies have recently demonstrated the role of epigenetics in melanoma development and progression. Here, we summarize the current data on epigenetic research in melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling studies have identified several miRNAs implicated in melanoma cell cycle and proliferation, cell migration and invasion, as well as miRNAs involved in apoptosis and immune response. Abnormal methylation profiling has been associated with melanoma progression and to date aberrant hypermethylation in more than 70 genes has been described. Recent works have highlighted the increasing evidence of the role of histone modification as a central regulatory event in melanoma pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many of these epigenetic biomarkers may have potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications. Future approach might be using a combination of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Dermatology bMolecular Biology Laboratory, Service of Clinical Analysis, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Unamuno
authors.forename: Sarai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palanca
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Botella
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs