Skip to main content

Epigenetic Regulation in Melanoma

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Book cover Melanoma

Abstract

Cancer is the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic events that lead to the disruption of normal cellular development and homeostasis. Skin cancer originates from transformed melanocytes and is one of the few cancers with a significantly increasing incidence. Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, accounts for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths, and the 5-year survival rate for late-stage melanoma is under 40%. While having some initial success in the clinic, targeted therapies and immunomodulators have a varied rate of response in patients and typically result in the development of drug resistance. The genomic landscape, including the identification of both driver and passenger mutations, in melanoma is well characterized. The epigenetic events that drive melanoma development and metastasis is an area of active research. The recent appreciation of epigenetic contributions to tumorigenesis focuses on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs. Here, we highlight key epigenetic mechanisms and how these epigenetic states can be exploited in (pre)clinical applications leading to novel therapeutic avenues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leonard Zon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Dang, M., Zon, L. (2019). Epigenetic Regulation in Melanoma. In: Fisher, D., Bastian, B. (eds) Melanoma. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7147-9_42

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7147-9_42

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7148-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7147-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics