Epigenetic and Environmental Risk Factors in Skin Cancer

Abstract

Epigenetic mechanisms cause changes in gene expression and cell phenotype without DNA sequence changes. They have been reported to play role in skin cancers, and identified as DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in humans and squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma are three main types. There are many environmental risk factors for skin cancer such as ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, viruses. Chronic ultraviolet exposure is accepted as the most important one. Environmental factors including ultraviolet radiation have also been reported to cause epigenetic modifications. This review will introduce the role of epigenetic in skin cancer, environmental risk factors in skin cancer and epigenetic modifications caused by these environmental risk factors.