"Genetics and Epigenetics: Unraveling the Secret Codes Behind Cancer"

Cancer is a complex chronic disease with important factors from both genetics and environment that affect the occurrence and development of the disease. Gene changes through mutations and epigenetic processes, which play an important role in regulating cell growth. Understanding these mechanisms not only helps us detect cancer faster. It may effectively reduce the risk and increase the chances of surviving cancer.

Relationship between genetics and cancer

Normally. The body has genes that play an important role in the development of cancer, including:

1. Oncogenes - Act to regulate cell growth, but when mutations occur or are overstimulated. It will cause cells to grow uncontrollably, such as MYC, RAS, HER2.

2. Tumor suppressor genes – Responsible for regulating cell division and destroying cells (Apoptosis), but when mutations occur or are disabled, cells continue to divide and do not destroy expired cells such as TP53 (p53), RB1, BRCA1/BRCA2.

3. DNA repair genes - Repair damaged DNA, but when mutations occur, this process becomes unstable and can cause cancer such as MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2.

From the above. Cancer is usually based on a mechanism that controls division, and the death of cells that normally occur is disturbed. from mutations in the genetic code or genes; This is one of the important features of cancer.

1. Somatic mutation - cells that are not germ cells and cannot be passed on to the next generation, but accumulate from the environment and an individual's exposure to carcinogens such as UV rays or smoking/exposure to tobacco smoke, etc. 

2. Germline mutation – is passed from parents to offspring. It can significantly increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Examples of cancers caused by genetics such as mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, or Lynch syndrome caused by changes in the genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 or EPCAM to repair faulty DNA, which has been found to be associated with the development of colon cancer and endometrial cancer, etc.

The role of epigenetics in cancer

In addition to genetics, An individual's behavior and environment also affect health. Transgenetic processes, or epigenetics, are the processes by which behavior and environment can alter the function of genes. Unlike genetic change, it is a permanent change, but it is a reversible process. It does not directly change the sequence of DNA, but it can change the way the body reads the DNA sequence. Gene expression In other words, genes can be controlled to make or not make proteins in cells at any time and at any time.

Environmental factors and lifestyle habits It can cause a variety of epigenetic changes, but the most common is DNA methylation, which is the process in which methylation is added to DNA and removes methyl groups from DNA through the demethylation process to turn genes on or off.

For example, smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke. In addition to mutating anti-cancer genes and carcinogenic genes. It also causes abnormal DNA methylation and other epigenetic processes, as well as inhibits the activity of anti-cancer genes. Therefore, it can be seen that these factors greatly affect gene expression.

Turning the crisis around by turning off the cancer switch

Although we cannot change the costs that are inherent like our genetics. But we can find ways to prevent it and change what we can manage. As follows:

1. Lifestyle modification - Promoting healthy behaviors such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and eating regularly. Get enough sleep. Avoidance of harmful substances (cigarettes, alcohol, pollution, PM2.5) and stress management play an important role in reducing the effects of epigenetic changes linked to cancer.

2. Early detection – know the health history of family members. Cancer screening and annual health check-up

Cancer can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors, with gene mutations and supergenetic processes resulting in abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth. Understanding these mechanisms allows for faster detection of the disease and effective prevention of it.

Although we cannot change our genes, we can reduce the risk of cancer through modifying lifestyle habits and early screening, which can improve our chances of survival and quality of life. Knowledge of genetics and epigenetics is key to effective cancer control and prevention.

Reference List

1. American Cancer Society. How does cancer start? Genes and Cancer [Internet]. Atlanta, GA: The American Cancer Society; 2022 Aug 31 [cited 2025 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/understanding-cancer/genes-and-cancer.html
2. Dominguez-Valentin M, Sampson JR, Seppälä TT, Ten Broeke SW, Plazzer JP, Nakken S, et al. Cancer risks by gene, age, and gender in 6350 carriers of pathogenic mismatch repair variants: findings from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database. Genet Med. 2020;22(1):15-25.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epigenetics, Health, and Disease [Internet]. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2025 Jan 31 [cited 2025 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/epigenetics/index.html#cdc_health_safety_special_topic_populations-epigenetics-and-diseases
4. Seiler CL, Song JUM, Kotandeniya D, Chen J, Kono TJY, Han Q, et al. Inhalation exposure to cigarette smoke and inflammatory agents induces epigenetic changes in the lung. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):11290.