Loss of G9a preserves mutation patterns but increases chromatin accessibility, genomic instability and aggressiveness in skin tumours

Mutations in, and the altered expression of, epigenetic modifiers are pervasive in human tumours, making epigenetic factors attractive antitumour targets. The open-versus-closed chromatin state within the cells-of-origin of cancer correlates with the uneven distribution of mutations. However, the lo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Avgustinova, Alexandra, Symeonidi, Aikaterini, Castellanos, Andrés, Urdiroz Urricelqui, Uxue, Solé Boldo, Llorenç, Martín, Mercè, Pérez Rodríguez, Ivan, Prats, Neus, Lehner, Ben, 1978-, Supek, Fran, Aznar Benitah, Salvador
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/176381
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/176381
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Epigenètica
Metàstasi
Càncer de pell
Epigenetics
Metastasis
Skin cancer
Descripción
Sumario:Mutations in, and the altered expression of, epigenetic modifiers are pervasive in human tumours, making epigenetic factors attractive antitumour targets. The open-versus-closed chromatin state within the cells-of-origin of cancer correlates with the uneven distribution of mutations. However, the long-term effect of targeting epigenetic modifiers on mutability in patients with cancer is unclear. Here, we increased chromatin accessibility by deleting the histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase G9a in murine epidermis and show that this does not alter the single nucleotide variant burden or global genomic distribution in chemical mutagen-induced squamous tumours. G9a-depleted tumours develop after a prolonged latency compared with their wild-type counterparts, but are more aggressive and have an expanded cancer progenitor pool, pronounced genomic instability and frequent loss-of-function p53 mutations. Thus, we call for caution when assessing long-term therapeutic benefits of chromatin modifier inhibitors, which may promote more aggressive disease.