DNA methylation and Cancer: Identifying and targeting epigenetic modifications may be the future of cancer therapy?

DNA methylation has been recognized as one of the most important epigenetic mechanisms regulating the expression and inhibition of genes giving rise to an organism's phenotype. It is hence of no surprise that when DNA methylation mechanisms are disrupted by intrinsic or extrinsic causes, the likelihood of tumourigenesis increases. Both hypermethylation and hypomethylation may predispose to cancer formation through aberrant inhibition or expression of particular genes and this is seen in different types of cancers, such as laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and acute myeloid leukaemia. By increasing our knowledge and understanding of these epigenetic mechanisms, we will be able to develop diagnostic techniques such as methylation profiling, to screen for and detect aberrant methylation patterns which may predispose to cancer formation in our patients. This would enable early diagnosis and treatment which may also involve the use of drugs developed to provide directed epigenetic therapy, shifting away from the current trend which involves the use of radical anti-cancer therapy. These diagnostic and treatment options may be the future of cancer management.