doi: 10.5732/cjc.011.10344

Aberrant promoter CpG methylation and its translational applications in breast cancer

Ting-Xiu Xiang, Ying Yuan, Li-Li Li, Zhao-Hui Wang, Liang-Ying Dan, Yan Chen, Guo-Sheng Ren, Qian Tao

Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P. R. China

[Abstract] Breast cancer is a complex disease driven by multiple factors including both genetic and epigenetic alterations. Recent studies revealed that abnormal gene expression induced by epigenetic changes, including aberrant promoter methylation and histone modification, plays a critical role in human breast carcinogenesis. Silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) by promoter CpG methylation facilitates cells growth and survival advantages and further results in tumor initiation and progression, thus directly contributing to breast tumorigenesis. Usually, aberrant promoter methylation of TSGs, which can be reversed by pharmacological reagents, occurs at the early stage of tumorigenesis and therefore may serve as a potential tumor marker for early diagnosis and therapeutic targeting of breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic changes of multiple TSGs involved in breast pathogenesis and their potential clinical applications as tumor markers for early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Chinese Journal of Cancer 2013, Volume: 32, Issue 1, Page: 12-20

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Ting-Xiu Xiang, Ying Yuan, Li-Li Li, Zhao-Hui Wang, Liang-Ying Dan, Yan Chen, Guo-Sheng Ren, Qian Tao. Aberrant promoter CpG methylation and its translational applications in breast cancer. Chin J Cancer. 2013, 32(1):12-20. doi:10.5732/cjc.011.10344


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