Roadmap for investigating epigenome deregulation and environmental origins of cancer.

Herceg, Zdenko; Ghantous, Akram; Wild, Christopher P.; Sklias, Athena; Casati, Lavinia; Duthie, Susan J.; Fry, Rebecca; Issa, Jean‐Pierre; Kellermayer, Richard; Koturbash, Igor; Kondo, Yukata; Lepeule, Johanna; Lima, Sheila C.S.; Marsit, Carmen J.; Rakyan, Vardhman; Saffery, Richard; Taylor, Jack A.; Teschendorff, Andrew E.; Ushijima, Toshikazu; Vineis, Paolo; Walker, Cheryl Lyn; Waterland, Robert A.; Wiemels, Joe; Ambatipudi, Srikant; Esposti, Davide Degli; Hernandez‐Vargas, Hector

Abstract

The interaction between the (epi)genetic makeup of an individual and his/her environmental exposure record (exposome) is accepted as a determinant factor for a significant proportion of human malignancies. Recent evidence has highlighted the key role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating gene-environment interactions and translating exposures into tumorigenesis. There is also growing evidence that epigenetic changes may be risk factor-specific ('fingerprints') that should prove instrumental in the discovery of new biomarkers in cancer. Here, we review the state of the science of epigenetics associated with environmental stimuli and cancer risk, highlighting key developments in the field. Critical knowledge gaps and research needs are discussed as well as advances in epigenomics that may help an understanding of the functional relevance of epigenetic alterations. Key elements required for causality inferences linking epigenetic changes to exposure and cancer are discussed as well as how these alterations can be incorporated in carcinogen evaluation and in understanding mechanisms underlying epigenome deregulation by the environment.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Journal: International journal of cancer
• Print ISSN: 0020-7136
• Electronic ISSN: 1097-0215
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 142
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 874-882
• Institution Citation: HERCEG, Z., GHANTOUS, A., WILD, C.P., SKLIAS, A., CASATI, L., DUTHIE, S.J., FRY, R., ISSA, J.-P., KELLERMAYER, R., KOTURBASH, I., KONDO, Y., LEPEULE, J., LIMA, S.C.S., MARSIT, C.J., RAKYAN, V., SAFFERY, R., TAYLOR, J.A., TESCHENDORFF, A.E., USHIJIMA, T., VINEIS, P., WALKER, C.L., WATERLAND, R.A., WIEMELS, J., AMBATIPUDI, S., ESPOSTI, D.D. and HERNANDEZ-VARGAS, H. 2017. Roadmap for investigating epigenome deregulation and environmental origins of cancer. International journal of cancer [online], 142(5), pages 874-882. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.31014
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.31014
• Keywords: Epigenetics; Environment; Cancer; Molecular mechanisms; Research gaps; Perspectives; Biomarkers