Most of the cancer patients die because the tumoral cells do not "stick" in the original site, but instead detach, invade and disseminate throughout the bloodstream to distal sites, where these transformed cells start to proliferate and destroy again. In the last ten years, researchers have identified a number of important genes involved in these processes, including cadherins, laminins, heparan sulfates, inhibitors of proteases and angiogenesis and many others. The puzzling problem was that few genetic alterations in these genes had been described in human tumors, despite the common finding of down-regulation. CpG island hypermethylation-associated silencing has come to the rescue of several of these genes and has situated them in the forefront of the current cancer research. However epigenetic silencing is also much more than aberrant DNA methylation, a whole set of histone modifiers and chromatin remodelling factors "conspire" to maintain the repression of these tumor/metastasis suppressor genes. DNA demethylating agents and inhibitors of histone deacetylases are the first generation of epigenetic drugs to beat them. In this book, the current directions in the epigenetics of cancer progression and metastasis are comprehensively described. It is now the turn of the reader to take care of the future. Dr Manel Esteller, Director, Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO) mesteller@cnio.

Anomalous epigenetic patterns touch many areas of study including biomedical, scientific, and industrial. With perspectives from international experts, this resource offers an all-inclusive overview of epigenetics, which bridge DNA information and function by regulating gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetics, in its most basic form, means heredity is not the sole determining factor in disease development. Rather, environmental and dietary factors can trigger a gene to behave in an unintended way, while the gene itself remains unchanged. Epigenetics in Biology and Medicinediscusses cell biology and epigenetics' role in human, animal, and plant diseases, including distortions in DNA methylation. The text also covers histone modifications, and epigenomics, as well as dietary and environmental impacts on epigenetic changes. Addresses These Important Questions: How promising are HDACi drugs as anti-tumor agents? Will restoring normal levels of miRNAs change the course of devastating diseases? Is it possible to alter epigenetic mechanisms once they are triggered? Is it possible to correct the abnormalities in methylation patterns that impact auto-immunities? Represents a Landmark Publication in this Cutting-Edge Field Dr. Manel Esteller, the editor of the volume, is a leading expert in molecular genetics of endometrial carcinoma. Under his editorial guidance, this publication goes beyond heredity to explain the crucial role of epigenetics in plants and physical and psychological diseases. This text is applicable to a wide range of researchers, including those invested in the applications of cell biology, those involved in disease research and deciding genetic patterns, and those coalitions concerned with the impact of epigenetics and possible cures. As a result, it has the potenti

Most of the cancer patients die because the tumoral cells do not "stick" in the original site, but instead detach, invade and disseminate throughout the bloodstream to distal sites, where these transformed cells start to proliferate and destroy again. In the last ten years, researchers have identified a number of important genes involved in these processes, including cadherins, laminins, heparan sulfates, inhibitors of proteases and angiogenesis and many others. The puzzling problem was that few genetic alterations in these genes had been described in human tumors, despite the common finding of down-regulation. CpG island hypermethylation-associated silencing has come to the rescue of several of these genes and has situated them in the forefront of the current cancer research. However epigenetic silencing is also much more than aberrant DNA methylation, a whole set of histone modifiers and chromatin remodelling factors "conspire" to maintain the repression of these tumor/metastasis suppressor genes. DNA demethylating agents and inhibitors of histone deacetylases are the first generation of epigenetic drugs to beat them. In this book, the current directions in the epigenetics of cancer progression and metastasis are comprehensively described. It is now the turn of the reader to take care of the future. Dr Manel Esteller, Director, Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO) mesteller@cnio.

Anomalous epigenetic patterns touch many areas of study including biomedical, scientific, and industrial. With perspectives from international experts, this resource offers an all-inclusive overview of epigenetics, which bridge DNA information and function by regulating gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetics, in its most basic form, means heredity is not the sole determining factor in disease development. Rather, environmental and dietary factors can trigger a gene to behave in an unintended way, while the gene itself remains unchanged. Epigenetics in Biology and Medicinediscusses cell biology and epigenetics' role in human, animal, and plant diseases, including distortions in DNA methylation. The text also covers histone modifications, and epigenomics, as well as dietary and environmental impacts on epigenetic changes. Addresses These Important Questions: How promising are HDACi drugs as anti-tumor agents? Will restoring normal levels of miRNAs change the course of devastating diseases? Is it possible to alter epigenetic mechanisms once they are triggered? Is it possible to correct the abnormalities in methylation patterns that impact auto-immunities? Represents a Landmark Publication in this Cutting-Edge Field Dr. Manel Esteller, the editor of the volume, is a leading expert in molecular genetics of endometrial carcinoma. Under his editorial guidance, this publication goes beyond heredity to explain the crucial role of epigenetics in plants and physical and psychological diseases. This text is applicable to a wide range of researchers, including those invested in the applications of cell biology, those involved in disease research and deciding genetic patterns, and those coalitions concerned with the impact of epigenetics and possible cures. As a result, it has the potenti

Discusses the impact of DNA methylation in human health and disease Includes concepts, experimental models, and clinical uses of demethylating agents Presents the most current research on the impact of DNA methylation in cancer Features the work of the foremost leaders in the field Understanding the complex roles of DNA methylation is currently an active field of research. DNA Methylation: Approaches, Methods, and Applications presents the most current research on the impact of DNA methylation in human disease, particularly cancer. Written by leaders in the field, this state-of-art reference delineates the best techniques to use when addressing questions concerning the cytocine methylation status of genomic DNA. It includes concepts, experimental models, and clinical uses of demethylating agents. The book provides a balance between articles clarifying methodological details and more general review chapters that offer broad biological perspectives on DNA methylation.