Epigenetic Profiling in Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract Epigenetics is a bridge between phenotype and genotype, a phenomenon that changes the outcome of a gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence. Among epigenetic mechanisms, promoter hypermethylations and subsequent silencing of numerous tumor suppressor genes has been found in head and neck cancers (HNCs). Epigenetic profiling is mostly focused on determination of DNA methylation status, because DNA methylations are relatively stable and well established in cancer development. Since epigenetic alterations are reversible, epigenetic profiling of HNCs will not only help us to understand the molecular details behind tumor development but also provide novel strategies to develop new therapies. The goal of this chapter is to review epigenetic studies done so far on HNCs and the techniques currently available for epigenetic profiling of HNCs.