Genome Methylation Patterns in Male Breast Cancer – Identification of an Epitype with Hypermethylation of Polycomb Target Genes

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease that shares both similarities and differences with female breast cancer (FBC). Very few genetic studies have been performed on MBC and global DNA methylation patterns in MBC have to date not been studied. Epigenetic changes are known to be involved in tumorigenesis; methylation may influence the expression of cancer-related genes, which may be potential druggable targets.The aim of this study was to assess genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in MBC and compare them with the previously identified transcriptional subgroups in MBC, luminal M1 and M2, as well as the intrinsic subgroups of FBC.

Source: Molecular Oncology - May 7, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ida Johansson, Martin Lauss, Karolina Holm, Johan Staaf, Cecilia Nilsson, Marie-Louise Fjällskog, Markus Ringnér, Ingrid Hedenfalk Source Type: research