Cancer epigenome: A review

Cancer genomics that normally relies on mutational analysis of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes has approached its inherent limits. This was not much of a surprise having in mind the genome dynamics and the resulting complexity of cancer phenotype and genotype. In response to this challenge, molecular genetics offered a new armory for the analysis of the genetic basis of cancer. This refers to the analysis of molecular features that regulate gene activity and the analysis of products of this activity. In the focus of tuning transcription is the methylation surveillance of the genome of the cell. Modification of proteins associated with chromatin and methylation of CpG sites in DNA was found to affect profoundly gene expression and is commonly termed epigenomics. Quantitative and qualitative characterization of the methylation profile of the cancer cell genome is formidable but necessary task with great potential for molecular pathology of cancer. There is little doubt that this line of research will add a great deal to the clinical practice and the basic science of oncology. The only question is how to make a large database large enough and how select the most reliable and sensitive technological approach with the highest throughput