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Polycomb and the Emerging Epigenetics of Pancreatic Cancer

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Abstract

Introduction

The revolution of epigenetics has revitalized cancer research, shifting focus away from somatic mutation toward a more holistic perspective involving the dynamic states of chromatin. Disruption of chromatin organization can directly and indirectly precipitate genomic instability and transformation.

Discussion

One group of epigenetic mediators, the Polycomb group (PcG) proteins, establishes heritable gene repression through methylation of histone tails. Although classically considered regulators of development and cellular differentiation, PcG proteins engage in a variety of neoplastic processes, including cellular proliferation and invasion. Due to their multifaceted potential, PcG proteins rest at the intersection of transcriptional memory and malignancy. Expression levels of PcG proteins hold enormous diagnostic and prognostic value in breast, prostate, and more recently, gastrointestinal cancers.

Conclusion

In this review, we briefly summarize the function of PcG proteins and report the latest developments in understanding their role in pancreatic cancer.

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Acknowledgements

This review was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants T32CA148073, DK52913, and DK058185.

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  1. Laboratory of Chromatin Dynamics and Epigenetics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Guggenheim 10, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Adrienne Grzenda, Tamas Ordog & Raul Urrutia

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  1. Adrienne Grzenda
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Correspondence to Raul Urrutia.

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Grzenda, A., Ordog, T. & Urrutia, R. Polycomb and the Emerging Epigenetics of Pancreatic Cancer. J Gastrointest Canc 42, 100–111 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-011-9262-4

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