title: Epigenetic modifications in multiple myeloma: recent advances on the role of DNA and histone methylation.
abstract: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a clonal late B-cell disorder accounting for about 13% of hematological cancers and 1% of all neoplastic diseases. Recent studies on the molecular pathogenesis and biology of MM have highlighted a complex epigenomic landscape contributing to MM onset, prognosis and high individual variability. Areas covered: We describe here the current knowledge on epigenetic events characterizing MM initiation and progression, focusing on the role of DNA and histone methylation and on the most promising epi-therapeutic approaches targeting the methylation pathway. Expert opinion: Data published so far indicate that alterations of the epigenetic framework, which include aberrant global or gene/non-coding RNA specific methylation profiles, feature prominently in the pathobiology of MM. Indeed, the aberrant expression of components of the epigenetic machinery as well as the reversibility of the epigenetic marks make this pathway druggable, providing the basis for the design of epigenetic therapies against this still fatal malignancy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , Magna Graecia University , Catanzaro , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences , University of Calabria , Rende , Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Aquila
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences , University of Calabria , Rende , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passarino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , Magna Graecia University , Catanzaro , Italy.|c Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology , Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , US.
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tassone
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences , University of Calabria , Rende , Italy.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015195:Drug Design; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: DNA methylation; epigenetic therapies; histone methylation; miRNA; microRNA; multiple myeloma; multiple myeloma epigenetics; non-coding RNAs