Oncology Division, Foundation for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Epigenomics. 2013;5(5):525-38. doi: 10.2217/epi.13.56.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous cancer that is characterized by rapid and uncontrolled proliferation of immature B- or T-lymphoid precursors. Although ALL has been regarded as a genetic disease for many years, the crucial importance of epigenetic alterations in leukemogenesis has become increasingly evident. Epigenetic mechanisms, which include DNA methylation and histone modifications, are critical for gene regulation during many key biological processes. Here, we review the cell signaling pathways that are regulated by DNA methylation or histone modifications in ALL. Recent studies have highlighted the fundamental role of these modifications in ALL development, and suggested that future investigation into the specific genes and pathways that are altered by epigenetic mechanisms can contribute to the development of novel drug-based therapies for ALL.
急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）是一种异质性癌症，其特征是不成熟的 B 或 T 淋巴细胞前体的快速和不受控制的增殖。虽然 ALL 多年来一直被认为是一种遗传疾病，但表观遗传改变在白血病发生中的关键重要性变得越来越明显。表观遗传机制包括 DNA 甲基化和组蛋白修饰，对于许多关键生物学过程中的基因调控至关重要。在这里，我们综述了 DNA 甲基化或组蛋白修饰调节的细胞信号通路在 ALL 中的作用。最近的研究强调了这些修饰在 ALL 发展中的基本作用，并表明未来对受表观遗传机制改变的特定基因和途径的研究可以为 ALL 的新型基于药物的治疗方法的开发做出贡献。
