Table 1 Main epigenetic alterations in cervical cancer

HPV-related

Methylation of HPV-E2 binding sites

De-repression of E6 and E7 HPV oncoproeteins?

Methyation at HPV-E6 and E7 LCR

Cause or consequence of E6/E7 over-expression?

E6 and/or E7 interaction with DNMTs?

Silencing of cellular tumor suppressor genes?

Interaction between E7 with HDACs

Aid for cell transformation

Interaction between E6 with HATs

Aid for cell transformation

Host cell-related

Regional DNA hypermethylation

Silencing of tumor suppressor genes

Global DNA hypomethylation

Genomic instability?, oncogen over-expression?

Abnormal pattern of chromatin

Unknown

Loss of imprinting at H19/IGF2 loci

Tumor progression?

H3 hyper-phosphorylation & acetylation

Associated with carcinogenesis Progression