Colorectal Cancer Epigenetics: Complex Simplicity

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has predominantly been considered a genetic disease, characterized by sequential accumulation of genetic alterations. Growing evidence indicates that epigenetic alterations add an additional layer of complexity to the pathogenesis of CRC, and characterize a subgroup of colorectal cancers with a distinct etiology and prognosis. Epigenetic dysregulation in colorectal cancer is organized at multiple levels, involving DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosomal occupancy and remodeling, chromatin looping, and noncoding RNAs. Interactions between these processes and complex associations with genetic alterations have recently been unraveled. It appears that CRC epigenetics will be the paradigm for multistep carcinogenesis, as CRC genetics has been for the past three decades. This review integrates recent data on epigenetic regulation of gene expression in CRC and describes how the understanding of these processes will alter the management of CRC.

Boswellic acid induces epigenetic alterations by modulating DNA methylation in colorectal cancer cells

“…Our initial hypothesis was that we would perhaps observe the most noticeable changes in AKBA-induced reversal of methylation in CIMP cell lines due to the high frequency and levels of methylated mono-targeted therapies. 35,36 In light of accumulating evidence and our findings in this study, clinical validation of the efficacy of boswellic acids for both chemoprevention and therapy of CRC could be promising.…”

Influence of miRNA-106b and miRNA-135a on butyrate-regulated expression of p21 and Cyclin D2 in human colon adenoma cells

“…The expression of miRNAs has also been identified to be dysregulated in colon cancer (Bartley et al 2011;Schetter et al 2008;Wu et al 2011). Another epigenetic mechanism of gene regulation is the modification of histones like (de)acetylation or (de)methylation which also plays a crucial role in colon cancer development (van Engeland et al 2011).…”

Association Between Six Genetic Polymorphisms and Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

“…CRC is characterized by various forms of gene mutations, accompanied by genome instability, including chromosomal instability and microsatellite instability (Lao and Grady, 2011). CRC development is a multistep and complex process involving with the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes (Lao and Grady, 2011;Migheli and Migliore, 2012), especially at the early stage of CRC (van Engeland et al, 2011). Histopathology classification of CRC is divided into glandular epithelium carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and carcinoid tumor (Armaghany et al, 2012).…”