Cancer and Gene Regulation

Cancer, a disease of altered gene expression, is the result of gene mutations or dramatic changes in gene regulation.

Common in cancer cells, silencing genes, which occur through epigenetic mechanisms, include modifications to histone proteins and DNA.

Increased transcriptional activation of genes result in alterations of cell growth leading to abnormal gene expression, as seen in cancer.

Modifications, such as the overexpression of miRNAs, in the post-transcriptional control of a gene can result in cancer.

Cancer can arise from translational or post-translational modifications of proteins.