title: Epigenetics of breast cancer: Modifying role of environmental and bioactive food compounds.
abstract: Reduced expression of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) increases the susceptibility to breast cancer. However, only a small percentage of breast tumors is related to family history and mutational inactivation of TSG. Epigenetics refers to non-mutational events that alter gene expression. Endocrine disruptors found in foods and drinking water may disrupt epigenetically hormonal regulation and increase breast cancer risk. This review centers on the working hypothesis that agonists of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), bisphenol A (BPA), and arsenic compounds, induce in TSG epigenetic signatures that mirror those often seen in sporadic breast tumors. Conversely, it is hypothesized that bioactive food components that target epigenetic mechanisms protect against sporadic breast cancer induced by these disruptors.
  
  
  
  This review highlights (i) overlaps between epigenetic signatures placed in TSG by AHR-ligands, BPA, and arsenic with epigenetic alterations associated with sporadic breast tumorigenesis; and (ii) potential opportunities for the prevention of sporadic breast cancer with food components that target the epigenetic machinery.
  
  
  
  Characterizing the overlap between epigenetic signatures elicited in TSG by endocrine disruptors with those observed in sporadic breast tumors may afford new strategies for breast cancer prevention with specific bioactive food components or diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.|The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Donato F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Romagnolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Grunwald
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Stephan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Propper
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.|The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Ornella I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Selmin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000187:drug effects; D019833:Genistein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001151:Arsenic; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D005492:Folic Acid; D019833:Genistein; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D014805:Vitamin B 12; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer prevention; Endocrine disruptors; Epigenetics; Tumor suppressor genes