AUTHOR=Goldman Samantha L. , Hassan Ciaran , Khunte Mihir , Soldatenko Arielle , Jong Yunji , Afshinnekoo Ebrahim , Mason Christopher E. TITLE=Epigenetic Modifications in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Prognosis, Treatment, and Heterogeneity JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics VOLUME=10 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.00133 DOI=10.3389/fgene.2019.00133 ISSN=1664-8021 ABSTRACT=

Leukemia, specifically acute myeloid leukemia (AML), is a common malignancy that can be differentiated into multiple subtypes based on leukemogenic history and etiology. Although genetic aberrations, particularly cytogenetic abnormalities and mutations in known oncogenes, play an integral role in AML development, epigenetic processes have been shown as a significant and sometimes independent dynamic in AML pathophysiology. Here, we summarize how tumors evolve and describe AML through an epigenetic lens, including discussions on recent discoveries that include prognostics from epialleles, changes in RNA function for hematopoietic stem cells and the epitranscriptome, and novel epigenetic treatment options. We further describe the limitations of treatment in the context of the high degree of heterogeneity that characterizes acute myeloid leukemia.