ARID1A mutations in cancer: Another epigenetic tumor suppressor?

Abstract

Although disordered chromatin organization has long been recognized as a fea-ture of cancer, the molecular underpinnings of chromatin structure, epigenetic regulation, and their relationships to transcription are only beginning to be understood. Cancer genome sequencing studies have revealed a novel theme: frequent mutation of epigenetic regulators. Among these, the ARID1A/BAF250A subunit of the SWI/SNF (BRG1-associated factors) chromatin remod-eling complex has emerged as recurrently mutated in a broad array of tumor types. We review the genomic and functional data supporting classifi cation of ARID1A as a tumor suppressor. © 2012 American Association for Cancer Research.