Epgenetic changes are alterations of DNA and the DNA packaging proteins (histones) that can alter the way our genes are used without directly changing the DNA sequence itself. A common epigenetic change is the addition of a small chemical group (methyl group or CH3) to cytosine bases (the C in our four letter DNA code of A, C, G and T).
Epigenetic changes are common in cancer and so researchers looking for markers of cancer susceptibility have begun to look at epigenetic changes as well as actual changes in the DNA sequence. A study of 111 bladder cancer samples and 119 healthy samples showed that epigenetic changes could be identified in the blood of patients. The results suggest that a blood test could be developed to let users know their risk of developing bladder (or other) cancers.
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