Human Cancer Genetics Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States.
FEBS Lett. 2011 Jul 7;585(13):2129-36. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.11.002. Epub 2010 Nov 5.
It is now appreciated that both genetic alteration, e.g. mutations, and aberrant epigenetic changes, e.g. DNA methylation, cause cancer. Epigenetic dysregulation is potentially reversible which makes it attractive as targets for cancer prevention. Synthetic drugs targeting enzymes, e.g. DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase, that regulate epigenetic patterns are active in clinical settings. In addition, dietary factors have been suggested to have potential to reverse aberrant epigenetic patterns. Uncovering the human epigenome can lead us to better understand the dynamics of DNA methylation in disease progression which can further assist in cancer prevention.
现在人们已经认识到，遗传改变（例如突变）和异常的表观遗传变化（例如 DNA 甲基化）都会导致癌症。表观遗传失调具有潜在的可逆性，因此作为癌症预防的靶点具有吸引力。针对调节表观遗传模式的酶（例如 DNA 甲基转移酶和组蛋白去乙酰化酶）的合成药物在临床环境中已得到应用。此外，膳食因素也被认为具有逆转异常表观遗传模式的潜力。揭示人类表观基因组可以帮助我们更好地了解 DNA 甲基化在疾病进展中的动态，从而进一步辅助癌症预防。
