Epigenetic Mechanisms in Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is considered one of the major health issues worldwide, and gastric cancer accounted for 8% of total cases and 10% of total deaths in 2008. Gastric cancer is considered an age-related disease, and the total number of newly diagnosed cases has been increasing as a result of the higher life expectancy. Therefore, the basic mechanisms underlying gastric tumorigenesis is worth investigation. This review provides an overview of the epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling complex and miRNA, involved in gastric cancer. As the studies in gastric cancer continue, the mapping of an epigenome code is not far for this disease. In conclusion, an epigenetic therapy might appear in the not too distant future.

KEYWORDS::

• chromatin remodeling complex
• DNA methylation
• epigenetics
• gastric cancer
• histone acetylation
• histone methylation
• hypermethylation
• miRNA
• phosphorylation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grants from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP; 2009/07145-9) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). CO Gigek has a fellowship granted by CAPES. DQ Calcagno and F Wisnieski have fellowships granted by FAPESP. RR Burbano and MAC Smith have a research grant from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP; 2009/07145-9) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). CO Gigek has a fellowship granted by CAPES. DQ Calcagno and F Wisnieski have fellowships granted by FAPESP. RR Burbano and MAC Smith have a research grant from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.