title: Histone variants and melanoma: facts and hypotheses.
abstract: Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer with rising incidence and morbidity. Despite advances in treatment, the 10-yr survival for patients with metastatic disease is less than 10%. During the past few years, ongoing research on different epigenomic aberrations in melanoma has catalyzed better understanding of its pathogenesis and identification of new therapeutics. In our review, we will focus on the role of histone variants, key epigenetic players in melanoma initiation and progression. Specifically, incorporation of histone variants enables additional layers of chromatin structure, and here, we will describe how alterations in this epigenetic behavior impact melanoma.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Nikifor K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Konstantinov
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Constance J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ulff-Møller
authors.affiliation: Institut Albert Bonniot, U823, INSERM/Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones
keywords: H3.3; epigenetics; histone variants; macroH2A; melanoma