title: Epigenetics of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: opportunities for novel chemotherapeutic targets.
abstract: Epigenetic modifications are heritable changes in gene expression that do not directly alter DNA sequence. These modifications include DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, small and non-coding RNAs. Alterations in epigenetic profiles cause deregulation of fundamental gene expression pathways associated with carcinogenesis. The role of epigenetics in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has recently been recognized, with implications for novel biomarkers, molecular diagnostics and chemotherapeutics. In this review, important epigenetic pathways in human papillomavirus (HPV) positive and negative OPSCC are summarized, as well as the potential clinical utility of this knowledge.This material has never been published and is not currently under evaluation in any other peer-reviewed publication.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alberta, 1E4.34 WMC, 8440 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alberta, 1E4.34 WMC, 8440 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seikaly
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alberta, 1E4.34 WMC, 8440 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada. vbiron@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Vincent L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Biron
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Chemotherapy; Epigenetics; Human papillomavirus; Oropharyngeal cancer; Squamous cell carcinoma