Epigenetics of testicular tumors
/The Role of DNA/Histone Modifying Enzymes and Chromatin Remodeling Complexes in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors - Beyond the Abstract
Despite being globally infrequent, testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) represent the most common neoplasms in young adult Caucasian men. They are challenging tumors, hallmarked by striking heterogeneity; however, they show very few mutations and share the same (almost) unifying cytogenetic abnormality, in the form of isochromosome 12p. This leaves room for Epigenetic phenomena to explain such diversity. Epigenetic mechanisms frequently deregulated in various cancer types include DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, but also the effect on chromatin accessibility subsequent to histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) and to the action of chromatin remodeling complexes (ChRCs). These modifications are introduced by complex families of enzymes (DNA and histone modifying enzymes) which show, naturally, deregulated expression in cancer. However, and despite epigenetic (de)regulation being especially relevant in TGCTs, few studies have addressed the role of these enzymes in this tumor model.
