Abstract
Epigenetic information is characterized by its stable transmission during mitotic cell divisions and plasticity during development and differentiation. This duality is in contrast to genetic information, which is stable and identical in all cells in an organism with exception of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in lymphocytes and somatic mutations in cancer cells. Allele-specific analysis of gene expression and epigenetic modifications provides a unique approach to studying epigenetic regulation in normal and cancer cells. Extension of Knudson's two-hits theory to include epigenetic alteration as a means to inactivate tumor suppressor genes provides better understanding of how genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations jointly contribute to cancer development. High-throughput technology has greatly accelerated cancer discovery. Large initiatives such as TCGA have shown that epigenetic components are frequent targets of mutations in cancer and these discoveries provide new insights into understanding cancer etiology and generate new opportunities for cancer therapeutics.
Highlights
Epigenetics, first coined by Conrad Waddington in 1940s, was a conceptual model that describes the development process of forming a multicellular organism from a fertilized zygote [1]
I will focus on a few selected topics that capture some aspects of epigenetics and epigenetic regulation in cancer from the perspective of epigenetic stability vs. plasticity and from the perspective of the allele-specific gene expression
We initially studied allele-specific gene expression using the Affymetrix SNP arrays and found extensive allelic variation in expression in the human genome [28]
Summary
Through the Lens of Epigenetic Inheritance, Allele-Specific Gene Expression, and High-Throughput Technology. Epigenetic information is characterized by its stable transmission during mitotic cell divisions and plasticity during development and differentiation. This duality is in contrast to genetic information, which is stable and identical in all cells in an organism with exception of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in lymphocytes and somatic mutations in cancer cells. High-throughput technology has greatly accelerated cancer discovery Large initiatives such as TCGA have shown that epigenetic components are frequent targets of mutations in cancer and these discoveries provide new insights into understanding cancer etiology and generate new opportunities for cancer therapeutics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
