Epigenetics in human gliomas

Aberrant epigenetic landscapes and their involvement in genesis and progression of tumors, as well as in treatment responses and prognosis, indicate one of the most emerging fields in cancer research. In gliomas, the most common human primary brain tumors, and in particular in glioblastoma, the most malignant and devastating brain tumor entity in adults, the elucidation of distinct patterns of aberrant DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA expression and their interrelationship has fundamentally changed our point of view on these highly heterogeneous tumors. In the current review article, we address the basic principles of epigenetic control in gliomas, their current and putative future role in prognostic and predictive models and possible interactions within the epigenetic network. We discuss diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities appearing at horizon of epigenetic research. Moreover, we present current and propose future clinical workflow models for molecular characterization of malignant gliomas.