RELAXATION OF IMPRINTING IN CARCINOGENESIS

The study of genes at the heart of tumorigenesis has helped unveil an elaborate biochemical circuitry that governs the proliferation and dif ferentiation of cells. Genomic imprinting is rapidly being recognized as a fundamental process in tumor biology. Aberrant relaxation of impr inted genes have been detected in a wide variety of cancers, of both e mbryonal and nonembryonal origin. However, despite a vast array of exp erimental observation, both the purpose and pathogenic mechanism of re laxation of imprinting remain an enigma. Hypotheses are examined in th is regard along with speculation for future research.