Epigenetic modification and cancer

Carcinogenesis springs from the combined forces of both genetic and epigenetic events.Although the importance of genetic mutations and deletion in cancer have long been recognized,the role of epigenetic modification including DNA methylation and histone modification has been suggested more recently.An epigenetic event alters the activity of genes without changing their structure.This review focuses on the epigenetic molecular mechanisms involved in cancer onset and progression,and discusses the possibility of new strategies in the development of anticancer treatments.