Posted: May 18th, 2015

Epigenetics and Cancer

Q1. Describe how DNA methylation is altered in cancer. In your answer include the following points:
Describe the normal function of DNA methylation at CpG islands.
Describe how DNA methylation of CpG islands is disrupted in cancer.
Explain how disruption of DNA methylation at CpG islands contributes to disease.
Describe the normal function of DNA methylation in intergenic regions and repetitive elements.
Describe how DNA methylation in intergenic regions and repetitive elements is disrupted in cancer.
Explain how disruption of DNA methylation in intergenic regions and repetitive elements contributes to disease.
Q2. Describe how disruption of imprinting can contribute to cancer, using the example of the H19/Igf2 cluster. In your answer include the following points:
Describe the methylation pattern of the paternal allele and how this determines Igf2 expression status.
Describe the methylation pattern of the maternal allele and how this determines Igf2 expression status.
Describe how imprinting at the H19/Igf2 cluster is disrupted in Wilm?s tumour.
Explain how disrupting imprinting at the H19/Igf2 cluster contributes to disease.

Q3. The Economist article ?Cancer?s epicentre? describes several drugs that affect epigenetic processes. Explain how Decitabine may be used to treat cancer, with reference to effects on the epigenome. In your answer include the following points:
Identify the class of epigenetic inhibitors that Decitabine belongs to.
Describe the impact of Decitabine on DNA methylation.
Describe how Decitabine can have an anti-tumour effect.