表观遗传学改变了我们对癌症的理解，它揭示了基因活性的变化（不改变 DNA 本身）如何引发和进展疾病。这些变化包括 DNA 甲基化、组蛋白构型和非编码 RNA 活性的调整。例如，DNA 甲基化可以使通常预防癌症的基因失活，从而导致更广泛的基因组不稳定。组蛋白修饰可以改变 DNA 缠绕的紧密程度，从而影响哪些基因处于活跃或沉默状态；而非编码 RNA 会干扰指导蛋白质生成的信息，从而影响癌症相关过程。与永久且不可逆的基因突变不同，表观遗传变化为治疗干预提供了可塑的目标，允许对基因表达模式进行潜在的可逆调整。这种灵活性对于复杂的癌症领域至关重要，因为静态遗传解决方案可能是不够的。此外，表观遗传学弥合了遗传倾向和环境对癌症的影响之间的差距，为了解生活方式因素和外部暴露如何影响癌症风险和进展提供了一个全面的框架。将表观遗传学整合到癌症研究中不仅增强了我们对这种疾病的理解，而且还开辟了以前在传统的以基因为中心的研究中未曾探索过的干预创新途径。先进测序和精确表观遗传修饰等技术正在为早期癌症检测和更加个性化的治疗方法铺平道路，凸显表观遗传学在现代癌症护理中的关键作用。版权所有 © 2024。由 Elsevier Inc. 出版。

Epigenetics has transformed our understanding of cancer by revealing how changes in gene activity, which do not alter the DNA itself, can initiate and progress the disease. These changes include adjustments in DNA methylation, histone configuration, and non-coding RNA activity. For instance, DNA methylation can inactivate genes that typically protect against cancer, leading to broader genomic instability. Histone modifications can alter how tightly DNA is wound, influencing which genes are active or silenced; while non-coding RNAs can interfere with the messages that direct protein production, impacting cancer-related processes. Unlike genetic mutations, which are permanent and irreversible, epigenetic changes provide a malleable target for therapeutic intervention, allowing potentially reversible adjustments to gene expression patterns. This flexibility is essential in the complex landscape of cancer where static genetic solutions may be insufficient. Additionally, epigenetics bridges the gap between genetic predispositions and environmental influences on cancer, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding how lifestyle factors and external exposures impact cancer risk and progression. The integration of epigenetics into cancer research not only enhances our understanding of the disease but also opens innovative avenues for intervention that were previously unexplored in traditional genetic-focused studies. Technologies like advanced sequencing and precise epigenetic modification are paving the way for early cancer detection and more personalized treatment approaches, highlighting the critical role of epigenetics in modern cancer care.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.