Research on similarities and differences of colorectal cancer epigenetic modiifcations in the Eastern and Western population / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Colorectal cancer remains a major threat to people’s health around the world. Researchers have paid more and more attention to colorectal cancer epigenetics. From two main aspects of colorectal cancer epigenetics DNA methylation and histone modiifcation, this article analyzes the similarities and differences between patients with colorectal cancer in Eastern and Western countries. This review brielfy introduces epigenetic modiifcation of genes that were used to be biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Although there are some common features of colorectal cancer in the world, analysis has showed that some obvious epigenetic differences do exist in different races. For example, it had been conifrmed in the studies that there are differences in speciifc gene methylation, histone modiifcation sites and the degree of methylation and acetylation among countries, which provide the basis for speciifc diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer in different ethnic groups. With improved research methods and increased sample size, more and more special molecular targets of colorectal cancer tissues will be found, and then personalized therapy for colorectal cancer can be achieved.