Hui Shen, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Epigenetics
Van Andel Institute

Department of Genetics

‘Cancer Epigenetics’: what is in a name?

Talk abstract:  Cancer epigenetic studies to date have largely focused on the impact of heritable non-genetic molecular alternations on gene function – inactivating tumor suppressor genes or activating oncogenes, much akin to genetic mutations. However, despite the widely used modern operative definition of the word ‘epigenetics’ – as a description of various modifications to the chromatin,  the concept of ‘epigenetics’ was originally used to describe cellular characteristics.  Using cancers arising from the female reproductive tract as the model system and combining with innovative single-cell technologies, I will present ‘epigenetic changes’ in cancer as landscapers of cell states, rather than mere driver and passenger events as defined in classical cancer genetics.

Hosted by:  Dr. Ting Wang
In-person only:  Connor Auditorium (FLTC)