Epigenetics of Breast Cancer

Epigenetic modulations of gene expression, post-transcriptional silencing of messenger RNA (mRNA), and post-translational modifications of protein functions play major roles in many diseases including cancer, and in particular in breast cancer. Genetic mutations are irreversible, and hence it is hard to target genes for therapy. However, many epigenetic modulations that have been implicated in breast cancer can be targeted for therapy, as the agents for deleterious epigenetic modulations can be silenced by targeted drugs. Hence it is important to understand the key epigenetic modulations in breast cancer. We will discuss the details of epigenetic modulation mechanisms, as well as specific epigenetic modulations that occur in different types of breast cancer in this chapter.