Imprinting Loss in Wilms Tumor Is Specific to IGF2 Gene

The most common epigenetic change in Wilms tumor is the loss of imprinting of the IGF2 gene. In this case, loss of imprinting means the copy of IGF2 that you get from your mother (which is usually turned off) is activated. This unusual activation occurs in about half of all Wilms tumors.

Andrew Feinberg, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and colleagues studied 59 Wilms tumor samples to determine whether this loss of imprinting is specific to the IGF2 gene or whether it is part of a more general disruption of the epigenome.

“These results may have important therapeutic implications. Because of their potential reversibility, epigenetic modifications are under investigation as potential targets for the treatment of various common cancers,” the authors write. -Journal of the National Cancer Institute