The physics of cancer: The role of epigenetics and chromosome conformation in cancer progression
- Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics UrB RAS, Perm, 614013 (Russian Federation)
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier UMR 5535, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier cedex 5, 34293 France (France)
Cancer progression is generally described in terms of accumulated genetic alterations and ensuing changes in cell properties. However, intermediary modifications are involved in the establishment of cancer cell phenotypes, at different levels of nuclear organization: DNA damages and their structural consequences, epigenetic modifications and their impact on chromatin architecture, changes in chromosome 3D organization. We review some of these alterations with a focus on their physical aspects. The challenge is to understand the multiscale interplay between generic physical mechanisms and specific biological factors in cancer cells. We argue that such an interdisciplinary perspective offers a novel viewpoint on cancer progression, early diagnosis and possibly therapeutic targets.
- OSTI ID:
- 22608285
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1760, Issue 1; Conference: PC'16: International conference on physics of cancer: Interdisciplinary problems and clinical applications 2016, Tomsk (Russian Federation), 22-25 Mar 2016; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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