What's the relevance of epigenetic aberrations during malignant progression of breast cancer?

Aberrant DNA methylation is a hallmark of cancer. However, despite extensive research in the last years, the crucial question remains whether aberrant demethylation of specific growth-promoting genes (such as proto-oncogenes) or the hypermethylation of growth-suppressing genes (like tumour-suppressor genes) significantly contribute to a selective advantage of a cancer cell in general and for metastatic progression. Here, we are studying the evolution and prognostic relevance of epigenetic aberrations during malignant progression of breast cancer in the BalbNeuT mouse model. This project is part of the FOR 2127 and a collaboration with the computational group of Rainer Spang.