title: DNA Methylation Machinery in the Endometrium and Endometrial Cancer.
abstract: During the normal menstrual cycle, endometrial tissue undergoes many biochemical and morphological changes which are under the control of steroid hormone levels. DNA methylation plays a key role in gene expression regulation and influences functional changes in endometrial tissue. Eliminating senescent cells from the functional layer of the endometrium is mediated by apoptotic cell death, which helps maintain cellular homeostasis. Aberrant DNA methylation changes result in deregulation of important apoptotic proteins during endometrial carcinogenesis and thus apoptosis resistance development. Evading apoptosis is still a major problem in the successful treatment of endometrial cancer patients with advanced disease. Despite intensive study of the cancer epigenome, there is missing information about disrupted apoptotic gene regulation in DNA methylation levels. Therefore, it is necessary to spread our knowledge in the field of epigenetics to help us differentiate normal and cancer tissues and detect the early stages of cancer disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caplakova
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babusikova
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Center, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blahovcova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy and University Hospital, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balharek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and University Hospital, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zelieskova
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia Biomedical Center, Martin, Slovakia hatok@jfmed.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatok
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis; D019070:Cell Lineage; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D019175:DNA Methylation; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: DNA methylation; apoptosis; endometrial cancer; menstrual cycle; review