Abstract

Cancer is a major health problem facing the entire human population. It affects almost every race, gender, or age in the social hierarchy. Many mechanisms have been proposed for the development of cancer; either genetic or epigenetic. Over the years, a cumulative body of research indicated that epigenetic mutations (epimutations) represent a chief player in the course of cancer, where it affects cell proliferation, cancer initiation, progression, apoptosis, and metastasis. In this minireview we highlight the main mechanisms of epigenetic-mediated cancer development with emphasis on the environmental pollution role in this arena.

Keywords: Cancer; Epigenetics; Environment; miRNA; Methylation; Acetylation

Abbreviations: PAHs: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; AAs: Aromatic Amines; HAAs: Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines; AAS: 2-Amino-Apidic Semialdehyde; HAAs: Halo acetic acids; TSGs: Tumor Suppressor Genes; DNMT: DNA Methyltransferase; MECP2: Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2; MBD: Methyl-CpG-Binding Domain; HDAC: Histone Deacetylase; TGF: Transforming Growth Factor; LINE: Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements; Alu: Repeats characterized first in Arthrobacter luteus ; AAP: Accumulation Associated Protein; EZH2: Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2; TMZ: Temozolomide; JMJD2C: Jumonji Domain 2; HATs: Histone Acetyl Transferase; Gcn5: General Control Nonderepressible-5; MYST: Histone Acetyltransferase KAT6A Its acronym comes from MOZ, YBF2/SAS3, SAS2 and TIP60 protein 3; CBP: CREB-Binding Protein; PTEN: Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog; APC: Adenomatous Polyposis Coli; IGF2: Insulin-like Growth Factor 2; IGF2R: Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Receptor; PEG3: Paternally-Expressed Gene 3 Protein; GNAS: Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein, Alpha Stimulating Activity Polypeptide; MEST: Mesoderm Specific Transcript; LOI: Loss of imprinting; CDKN2: Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor; KRAS: Kirsten RAt Sarcoma; HPRT: Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyl transferase; DAPK: Death-Associated Protein Kinase; RAR-β: Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta