Implications of chromatin modifier mutations in epigenetic regulation of bladder cancer

Abstract

Chromatin deregulation is an emerging theme in cancer pathogenesis, and bladder cancer stands out among many other cancer types with frequent mutations of genes involved in epigenetic regulation. Defects in chromatin-level regulation can be manifested at multiple levels such as changes in DNA methylation, histone methylation patterns, and non-coding RNAs. Chromatin modifiers mutated in bladder cancer, such as KDM6A, KMT2D, KMT2C, ARID1A, EP300, have been studied in bladder cell line models. Also, there are studies that mapped the active regulatory landscape of bladder cancer and histone modification profiles. Collectively, existing literature emphasizes the importance of a thorough understanding of epigenetic deregulation in bladder cancer. The epigenetic signatures of bladder cancer can be targeted via epigenetic drugs or other genome editing tools, ultimately bringing specific treatment options for this cancer.