title: Epigenetic Alterations in Colorectal Cancer: Emerging Biomarkers.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. One of the fundamental processes driving the initiation and progression of CRC is the accumulation of a variety of genetic and epigenetic changes in colonic epithelial cells. Over the past decade, major advances have been made in our understanding of cancer epigenetics, particularly regarding aberrant DNA methylation, microRNA (miRNA) and noncoding RNA deregulation, and alterations in histone modification states. Assessment of the colon cancer "epigenome" has revealed that virtually all CRCs have aberrantly methylated genes and altered miRNA expression. The average CRC methylome has hundreds to thousands of abnormally methylated genes and dozens of altered miRNAs. As with gene mutations in the cancer genome, a subset of these epigenetic alterations, called driver events, are presumed to have a functional role in CRC. In addition, the advances in our understanding of epigenetic alterations in CRC have led to these alterations being developed as clinical biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications. Progress in this field suggests that these epigenetic alterations will be commonly used in the near future to direct the prevention and treatment of CRC.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Baylor Research Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Yoshinaga
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okugawa
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington; Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: wgrady@fredhutch.org.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Baylor Research Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address: ajay.goel@baylorhealth.edu.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D019175:DNA Methylation; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011379:Prognosis; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006657:Histones; D035683:MicroRNAs; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: DNA Methylation; Histone Modification; Long Noncoding RNA; MicroRNA