A recent convergence of genomic and epigenomic findings has brought the study of DNA methylation to the forefront of cancer research. In this session I will review our knowledge to date and suggest future directions for translational research and clinical applications in two key areas – (i) dietary methyl donors and DNA methylation in cancer prevention, (ii) allele-specific DNA methylation mapping as a tool for improving the yield of true-positive signals from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for cancer susceptibility. These topics will highlight the importance of cis- and trans-acting influences of the genetic background on epigenetic patterns and cancer susceptibility.

References:

1. Kerkel K, Spadola A, Yuan E, Kosek J, Jiang L, Hod E, Li K, Murty VV, Schupf N, Vilain E, Morris M, Haghighi F, Tycko B (2008) Genomic surveys by methylation-sensitive SNP analysis identify sequence-dependent allele-specific DNA methylation. Nat Genet 40:904-908. PMID:18568024

2. Tycko B (2010). Allele-specific DNA methylation: beyond imprinting. Hum Mol Genet. 19:R210-220.

3. Gonda TA, Kim Y-I, Salas M, Gamble MV, Shibata W, Muthupalani S, Sohn K-J, Abram J, Fox JG, Wang TC, Tycko B (2012). Folic acid increases global DNA methylation and reduces inflammation to prevent Helicobacter-associated gastric cancer in mice. Gastroenterology. 142(4):824-833 PMID:22474448

4. Paliwal A, Temkin A, Kerkel K, Yale A, Yotova I , Drost N, Lax S, Nhan-Chang C-L, Powell C, Borczuk A, Aviv A, Wapner R, Chen X, Nagy P, Schork N, Do C, Torkamani A, Tycko B. (2013) Comparative anatomy of chromosomal domains with imprinted and non-imprinted allele-specific DNA methylation. PLoS Genet. 9(8):e1003622.

Citation Format: Benjamin Tycko. Interaction between genetics, epigenetics, and environment in cancer prevention. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2013 Oct 27-30; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2013;6(11 Suppl): Abstract nr ED02-02.

©2013 American Association for Cancer Research.
2013