Aberrant gene function and altered patterns of gene expression are key features of cancer. Growing evidence shows that acquired epigenetic abnormalities participate with genetic alterations to cause this dysregulation. Here, we review recent advances in understanding how epigenetic alterations participate in the earliest stages of neoplasia, including stem/precursor cell contributions, and discuss the growing implications of these advances for strategies to control cancer.
异常基因功能与基因表达模式的改变是癌症的关键特征。越来越多的证据表明,获得性表观遗传异常与遗传变异共同作用导致这种调控失调。本文综述了关于表观遗传改变如何参与肿瘤形成最初阶段(包括干细胞/前体细胞的作用)的最新研究进展,并探讨这些进展对癌症控制策略日益重要的意义。