Role of epigenetic deregulation in hematogenous dissemination of malignant uveal melanoma.

It has become increasingly clear that epigenetic deregulation plays a fundamental role in cancer. Although the understanding of molecular, genetic and transcriptional alterations involved in the initiation and progression of uveal melanoma (UM) has grown significantly in recent years, little attention has been paid to the role of epigenetic changes. In cancer, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enables trans-differentiation of epithelial tumor cells, endowing them with migratory and invasive properties. EMT-inducing transcription factors have been shown to interact with multiple epigenetic modifiers, thus reflecting the reversible nature of EMT. Therefore, the epigenetic therapy targeting these interactions may provide a promising therapeutic option, especially since no improvement in survival of patients with metastatic UM has been achieved using traditional approaches. This review summarizes current knowledge of epigenetic regulation of EMT in UM and emphasizes the need for deeper understanding of these highly dynamic and reversible processes. The potential for targeting individual members of the epigenetic machinery is also addressed.