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REVIEW article

Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Genetics
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1513654
This article is part of the Research Topic Exploring Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cancer View all 8 articles

Mechanisms and Technologies in Cancer Epigenetics

Provisionally accepted
Zaki A Sherif Zaki A Sherif 1,2*Olorunseun O Ogunwobi Olorunseun O Ogunwobi 3Habtom Ressom Habtom Ressom 4
  • 1 Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States
  • 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
  • 3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
  • 4 Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Cancer's epigenetic landscape, a labyrinthine tapestry of molecular modifications, has long captivated researchers with its profound influence on gene expression and cellular fate. This review discusses the intricate mechanisms underlying cancer epigenetics, unraveling the complex interplay between DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs. We navigate through the tumultuous seas of epigenetic dysregulation, exploring how these processes conspire to silence tumor suppressors and unleash oncogenic potential. The narrative pivots to cutting-edge technologies, revolutionizing our ability to decode the epigenome. From the granular insights of single-cell epigenomics to the holistic view offered by multi-omics approaches, we examine how these tools are reshaping our understanding of tumor heterogeneity and evolution. The review also highlights emerging techniques, such as spatial epigenomics and long-read sequencing, which promise to unveil the hidden dimensions of epigenetic regulation. Finally, we probed the transformative potential of CRISPR-based epigenome editing and computational analysis to transmute raw data into biological insights. This study seeks to synthesize a comprehensive yet nuanced understanding of the contemporary landscape and future directions of cancer epigenetic research.

    Keywords: Cancer, Chromatin, DNA Methylation, epigenetics, epigenetic therapy, Histone Modifications, non-coding RNAs, tumorigenesis

    Received: 18 Oct 2024; Accepted: 04 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Sherif, Ogunwobi and Ressom. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Zaki A Sherif, Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.