Epigenetics News and Research

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Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions that influence gene expression, through activation or deactivation of genes at specific times and locations.

Researchers study effect of immune tolerance on certain cancer risks

For a malignant tumor to form, cancer cells must evade the immune system's attack. Numerous studies have already shown that cancer spreads particularly aggressively if there is an unfavorable balance between suppressing and active immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. "But we didn't know whether this is a consequence of an aggressive tumor or rather its cause," says Rudolf Kaaks, epidemiologist at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ).

7 Oct 2015

Leading cancer researchers address eight 'big questions'

Leading cancer researchers address eight of the "big questions" facing the field as part of the inaugural issue of Trends in Cancer, published by Cell Press.

30 Sep 2015

Study: Increased acetylation of histones promotes fear extinction in mice

The targeted modulation of gene activity and cellular signaling pathways could provide a new approach to the treatment of fear and anxiety states according to the recent findings of a project sponsored by the Austrian Science Fund FWF.

29 Sep 2015

Expectant mothers can modify genetic information of their future child, shows new research

A new scientific discovery confirms for the first time that mothers-to-be are capable of modifying the genetics of their future child, even when the egg has been donated.

29 Sep 2015

Researchers develop methodology to monitor changes in DNA methylation patterns in individual cells

Whitehead Institute researchers have developed a methodology to monitor changes in DNA methylation over time in individual cells.

26 Sep 2015

TUM, Stanford University scientists create new cancer therapy concept

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and one of the most difficult to treat. Its high resistance to treatment is a major problem, particularly in the advanced stages.

24 Sep 2015

Study uses genome- and epigenome-editing tools to determine disease-causing variants

A paper receiving advance online release in Nature Medicine describes a strategy for meeting one of today's most significant challenges in genomic medicine - determining whether a specific DNA variant in the non-protein-coding genome is the actual disease-causing variant of an associated disease risk.

24 Sep 2015

VolitionRx's NuQ blood test receives CE Mark approval for detection of colorectal cancer

VolitionRx Limited today announced the Company's first CE Mark for its blood-based diagnostic assay, NuQ X001S, for detection of colorectal cancer. The NuQ test utilizes the Company's proprietary Nucleosomics technology platform, which identifies and analyses fragments of chromosomes, called nucleosomes, circulating within the blood for the presence of epigenetic cancer signals.

22 Sep 2015

Boehringer Ingelheim, BioMed X apply crowdsourcing approach to establish research team for identifying COPD treatment

Boehringer Ingelheim and BioMed X announced today that they have successfully applied a crowdsourcing approach to establish a research team of outstanding scientists from around the world with bright ideas, who will endeavor to identify new approaches for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

21 Sep 2015

New optimising ChIP sequencing library preparation guide

Chromatrap®, a business unit of Porvair Sciences, has produced an informative new guide entitled ‘Top 10 Tips for ChIP-seq Library Preparation'.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 18 Sep 2015

Pipetting Solutions for Sample Screening

Our research focuses on interleukin 1 and the inflammasome and their role in innate immunity and inflammation.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 16 Sep 2015

Scientists find how cells adapt to overcome cancer drugs

CANCER RESEARCH UK scientists have found how cells adapt to overcome cancer drugs designed to interfere with their genetic controls, according to a study published today (Wednesday) in Epigenetics and Chromatin.

16 Sep 2015

Combining epigenetic drugs with immunotherapies may provide additional clinical benefit to cancer patients

Recent data suggest that epigenetic therapies are likely to provide additional clinical benefit to cancer patients when rationally combined with immunotherapeutic drugs, according to a review published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

15 Sep 2015

Researchers identify new epigenetic markers for colorectal cancer

Researchers at Nanjing University, China, found new epigenetic markers for colorectal cancer which may offer a new approach for treatment.

14 Sep 2015

Mirati to present data on tyrosine kinase inhibitor at ESMO 2015 European Cancer Congress

Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., an oncology company focusing on genetic and epigenetic drivers of cancer, today announced it will present data on its tyrosine kinase inhibitor, MGCD516, at the ESMO 2015 European Cancer Congress being held in Vienna, Austria from September 25-29, 2015.

11 Sep 2015

Penn Medicine researchers show that DNA editing errors can lead to cancer

Sometimes when the immune system makes small mistakes, the body amplifies its response in a big way: Editing errors in the DNA of developing T and B cells can cause blood cancers. Now, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have shown that when the enzyme key to cutting and pasting segments of DNA hits so-called "off-target" spots on a chromosome, the development of immune cells can lead to cancer in animal models.

11 Sep 2015

VolitionRx receives new U.S. patent for Nucleosomics platform

VolitionRx Limited, a life sciences company focused on developing blood tests for a broad range of cancer types and other conditions, today announced the grant of US Patent Number 9,128,086 entitled "Detection of Histone Modification in Cell-Free Nucleosomes". This patent is already issued in Europe to the Company under the number EP1668368B1.

10 Sep 2015

Researchers use nanopore technology for early detection of colorectal and lung cancers

Using tiny "nanopore" scanners that can detect individual DNA molecules, Professor Amit Meller and colleagues are on the hunt for biological markers in cancer cells that may help clinicians diagnose colorectal and lung cancers at their earliest stages.

10 Sep 2015

Using whole genomes data to improve bowel cancer diagnosis: an interview with Professor Ian Tomlinson

The project aims to sequence the specified 100,000 genomes from two types of patients: first, those who may have rare inherited diseases caused by unknown or unidentified genes; and second, people with one of several types of cancer, including colorectal cancer.

9 Sep 2015

Prenatal exposure to historical Ukraine Famine increases risk for Type 2 diabetes

Men and women exposed in early gestation to the man-made Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 in regions with extreme food shortages were 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

4 Sep 2015