Genomic imprinting in tumours

In recent years it has become apparent that genomic imprinting may have a role in the development of certain types Of Cancer. Preferential loss or retention of one parental genotype in chromosomal regions known to be subject to imprinting have been found in specific cancers. This finding raises the possibility that an epigenetic mechanism such as imprinting may alter gene expression and lead to inactivation of tumour suppressor genes or activation or dominant oncogenes. Rearrangements within imprinted chromosomal domains have the potential to influence the stage- and tissue-specific expression of both tumour suppressor and growth promoting genes that cluster to such regions, thus influencing the initiation and progression of cancer.