Several mechanisms can lead to gene silencing in cancer:
1. DNA Methylation: The addition of methyl groups to DNA, particularly at CpG islands near gene promoters, can repress gene expression. 2. Histone Modification: Changes to histone proteins around which DNA is wound can impact gene accessibility and expression. 3. RNA Interference: Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) can bind to mRNA transcripts, preventing their translation into proteins.
