PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Linking risk factors and disease origins in breast cancer

2013-11-20
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Andrew Thompson
andrew@landesbioscience.com
Landes Bioscience
Linking risk factors and disease origins in breast cancer Researchers from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth have found that epigenetic changes to DNA are associated with aging in disease-free breast tissues and are further altered in breast tumors. Epigenetic changes describe heritable alterations caused by mechanisms other than by changes in DNA sequence. The discovery, published in the February 2014 issue of Epigenetics, illustrates how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected processes by identifying epigenetic alterations present in the normal aging breast that may increase disease risk in cancer-free individuals. The epigenetic changes examined highlight different patterns in DNA methylation, which involves the chemical modification of DNA and acts in the control of gene expression. While DNA methylation is a normal and necessary epigenetic process, breast tumors exhibit altered methylation patterns compared to normal breast tissue. Accordingly, atypical DNA methylation marks are recognized to precede cancer initiation.

For the study, the researchers leveraged publicly available genome-wide methylation data on disease-free breast tissues and identified consistent methylation alterations associated with the aging process across multiple populations. The levels of methylation in normal tissues were then compared to breast tumor tissues where age-related changes were further altered in breast tumors. Their data suggests that there may be common genomic regions that are particularly susceptible to changes in DNA methylation over time in disease-free breast tissue (or that these changes are selected for) on the path to development of cancer. Although age is the strongest demographic risk factor for breast cancer, the mechanisms underlying how age increases a woman's risk for the development of disease are incompletely characterized. Emerging literature has demonstrated that aging can have profound effects on DNA methylation patterns that reflect an accumulation of exposures. Hence, the study extends the understanding of the biological mechanisms through which an established breast cancer risk factor, such as age, contributes to carcinogenesis.

### For the full paper, visit the following link: https://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/epigenetics/article/27015/

Epigenetics is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research and review articles covering the latest findings about epigenetic mechanisms and their role in diverse biological processes. Established in 1997, Landes Bioscience is an Austin, Texas-based publisher of biology research journals and books. For more information on Landes Bioscience, please visit http://www.landesbioscience.com/.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

IUPUI study: Finding Occam's razor in an era of information overload

2013-11-20
IUPUI study: Finding Occam's razor in an era of information overload INDIANAPOLIS -- How can the actions and reactions of proteins so small or stars so distant they are invisible to the human eye be accurately predicted? How can ...

Magnetic nanoparticles could aid heat dissipation

2013-11-20
Magnetic nanoparticles could aid heat dissipation CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Cooling systems generally rely on water pumped through pipes to remove unwanted heat. Now, researchers at MIT and in Australia have found a way of enhancing heat transfer in such systems ...

Carnegie Mellon computer searches web 24/7 to analyze images and teach itself common sense

2013-11-20
Carnegie Mellon computer searches web 24/7 to analyze images and teach itself common sense NEIL program labels images, learns associations with minimal help from people PITTSBURGH—A computer program called the Never Ending Image Learner (NEIL) is running 24 hours ...

USF researchers show invasive sparrows immune cells sharpen as they spread

2013-11-20
USF researchers show invasive sparrows immune cells sharpen as they spread TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2013) - When invasive species move into new areas, they often lose their natural enemies, including the microbes that make them sick. But new research ...

Solar-powered battery woven into fabric overcomes hurdle for 'wearable electronics'

2013-11-20
Solar-powered battery woven into fabric overcomes hurdle for 'wearable electronics' Though some people already seem inseparable from their smartphones, even more convenient, wearable, solar-powered electronics could be on the way soon, woven into clothing ...

Insomnia linked to mortality risk

2013-11-20
Insomnia linked to mortality risk Researchers associate some insomnia symptoms with higher mortality risk in men Boston, MA - Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, affects up to one-third of the population in the United States. In new findings, ...

Reducing the salt in bread without losing saltiness, thanks to a texture trick

2013-11-20
Reducing the salt in bread without losing saltiness, thanks to a texture trick Want to make bread taste pleasantly salty without adding more salt? Change the bread's texture so it is less dense, say scientists. They report in ACS' Journal of Agricultural ...

Introducing solid foods while continuing to breast feed could prevent child allergies

2013-11-20
Introducing solid foods while continuing to breast feed could prevent child allergies Introducing solid food with breast milk after the 17th week of birth could reduce food allergies in babies, according to University of Southampton research. The research, ...

Hormone therapy could enhance the therapeutic effect of head and facial bone grafts

2013-11-20
Hormone therapy could enhance the therapeutic effect of head and facial bone grafts Bone grafts, which are used to treat head injuries and birth defects, still pose major medical challenges, but scientists are reporting progress toward a new hormone therapy ...

Dismantling Syria's chemical weapons in the midst of war

2013-11-20
Dismantling Syria's chemical weapons in the midst of war Syria no longer has the capacity to produce new chemical weapons en masse, but arms control experts caution that what remains is the more difficult job of destroying the existing stockpile in the midst ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] Linking risk factors and disease origins in breast cancer