Epigenetics Regulation of Lung Cancer: Implications for Clinical Doctor

Lung cancer is the leading cause of malingnancy death worldwide. This phenomenon occurs when detected in the most advanced stages of the disease (stage III or IV). There are risk factors described in the generation of this cancer such us the consumption of tabacco, inhalation and subsequent accumulation of radon and asbestos in lung tissue, environmental pollution, the presence of genetic alterations, and the presence of epigenetic factors regulating the expression or repression of genes involved in tumor development. Epigenetic regulation mechanisms may get involved in tumor progression. They are DNA methylation, histone covalent modification and the presence of noncoding RNAs. At different stages of tumor progression it described, the involve of epigenetic mechanisms as regulators of processes related to proliferation, epithelial mesenchymal transition, metastasis, apoptosis, and others describes different stages of the tumor progression. This review focuses on describing the role of epigenetics in the progression of the lung tumor and remarks on the importance of enhancing knowledge in this discipline for diagnosis and treatment.