Cancer epigenetic changes

Due to their functional involvement in specific molecular pathways, miRNAs have become interesting targets for therapeutic intervention. Examples of disease-related mechanisms affected by miRNAs include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 3 UTR sequences (23, 24) or in miRNA genes (25, 26) that may affect normal protein expression and has been identified in association with heart failure (27) and cancer (25, 28). Chromosomal deletions and epigenetic changes involving miRNA also cause abnormal protein expression that is associated with malfunctions... 

Kondo Y, Issa JP. Epigenetic changes in colorectal cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2004 23 29-39. 

Because certain disease states can be linked to epigenetic states, it is possible for one individual to develop a disease while his or her identical twin does not. Susceptibility to diseases is often a family trait, but the actual mechanism of getting the disease may require epigenetic changes in the DNA of a ceU. Epigenetic changes are known to be important, CH3 the field of cancer research, but... 

Ehrlich, Melanie, ed. DNA Alterations in Cancer Genetic and Epigenetic Changes. Natick, Mass. Eaton, 2000. 

Feitelson MA. Parallel epigenetic and genetic changes in the pathogenesis of hepatitis virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Letts 2006 239 10-20. 

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