Epigenetics and Tumor Formation

hypomethylation of oncogenes leads to overexpression of genes that drive the proliferation of cancer cells. the hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes leads to reduced expression of genes that are involved in DNA repair, apoptosis and detoxification.

BCL-2 in breast cancer which is anti-apoptotic

MGMT which is a DNA repair gene that is hypermethylated in colon, lung and gastric cancers

<p>when cytosine is methylated it forms S-cytosine which is very unstable and can undergo spontaneous deamination to form thymine</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>genome-wide hypomethylation causes activation of transposable elements which are unstable, causing genome instability</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>small molecule inhibitors that target the epigenetic machinery</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>enzymatic regulators</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>epi-drugs aim to activate TSGs, deactivate oncogenes prevent proliferation and trigger apoptosis in cancer cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>nucleoside analogs and non-nucleoside analog inhibitors</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>they incorporate themselves into the DNA which reduces methylation levels and reactivates TSGs</p> Signup and view all the answers