Epigenetic changes in cancer: Role of environment

Zdenko Herceg; Paolo Boffetta

doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-6752-7_7

Epigenetic changes in cancer: Role of environment

Zdenko Herceg
, Paolo Boffetta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is now recognized that epigenetic heredity is important for understanding the causes of complex diseases such as cancer. Recent discoveries provided strong evidence arguing that epigenetic mechanisms play key roles in virtually all stages of cancer development and progression. A number of critical processes found in cancer cells, such as silencing of tumour suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes, aberrant cell cycle, and defects in DNA repair, can be a consequence of not only genetic but also epigenetic changes. Various environmental agents that are either known or suspected risk factors for human cancer may promote tumorigenesis by eliciting epigenetic changes. Better understanding of the contribution of aberrant epigenetic mechanisms induced by environment may prove critical in the development of novel strategies for cancer prevention.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Environmental Factors, Genes, and the Development of Human Cancers
Publisher	Springer New York
Pages	153-196
Number of pages	44
ISBN (Print)	9781441967510
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6752-7_7
State	Published - 2010
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cancer
DNA methylation
Environment
Environmental epigenetics
Epigenetic changes
Histone modifications

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10.1007/978-1-4419-6752-7_7

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T2 - Role of environment

AU - Herceg, Zdenko

AU - Boffetta, Paolo

PY - 2010

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N2 - It is now recognized that epigenetic heredity is important for understanding the causes of complex diseases such as cancer. Recent discoveries provided strong evidence arguing that epigenetic mechanisms play key roles in virtually all stages of cancer development and progression. A number of critical processes found in cancer cells, such as silencing of tumour suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes, aberrant cell cycle, and defects in DNA repair, can be a consequence of not only genetic but also epigenetic changes. Various environmental agents that are either known or suspected risk factors for human cancer may promote tumorigenesis by eliciting epigenetic changes. Better understanding of the contribution of aberrant epigenetic mechanisms induced by environment may prove critical in the development of novel strategies for cancer prevention.

AB - It is now recognized that epigenetic heredity is important for understanding the causes of complex diseases such as cancer. Recent discoveries provided strong evidence arguing that epigenetic mechanisms play key roles in virtually all stages of cancer development and progression. A number of critical processes found in cancer cells, such as silencing of tumour suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes, aberrant cell cycle, and defects in DNA repair, can be a consequence of not only genetic but also epigenetic changes. Various environmental agents that are either known or suspected risk factors for human cancer may promote tumorigenesis by eliciting epigenetic changes. Better understanding of the contribution of aberrant epigenetic mechanisms induced by environment may prove critical in the development of novel strategies for cancer prevention.

KW - Cancer

KW - DNA methylation

KW - Environment

KW - Environmental epigenetics

KW - Epigenetic changes

KW - Histone modifications

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84900265620

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DO - 10.1007/978-1-4419-6752-7_7

M3 - Chapter

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SN - 9781441967510

SP - 153

EP - 196

BT - Environmental Factors, Genes, and the Development of Human Cancers

PB - Springer New York

ER -

Epigenetic changes in cancer: Role of environment

Abstract

Keywords

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