Smoke-Induced Changes to the Epigenome Provide Fertile Ground for Oncogenic Mutation

Abstract

How genetic and epigenetic events synergize to generate the oncogenic state is not well understood. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Vaz et al. provide compelling evidence that exposure to chronic cigarette smoke causes progressive epigenetic alterations that prime for key genetic events to drive the development of lung cancer. How genetic and epigenetic events synergize to generate the oncogenic state is not well understood. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Vaz et al. provide compelling evidence that exposure to chronic cigarette smoke causes progressive epigenetic alterations that prime for key genetic events to drive the development of lung cancer.