Epigenetics, Its Develpoment for the Diagnostic Analyses and for the Treatment

'Epigenetics' is an old school of biology; even older than 'genetics'. In this two decades epigenetics has become popular along with the development of analysis technologies. Today epigenetical gene regulation is classified in three, namely, DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and miRNA. The author developed non-isotopic cytosine extension assay to measure whole genome methylation. Through bisulfite PCR and sequence, promoter methylation of CDH1 and several genes were demonstrated in skin cancers. The author developed methylation detection-in situ hybridization to visualize DNA methylation in situ. Combined with mRNA in situ hybridization and protein immunodetection, DNA methylation-mRNA/protein suppression axis was clearly demonstrated. Then pharmacological treatment on primary culture of skin tumor was successfully carried out, and methylation-suppressed gene was re-expressed in situ. Epigenetics can be applied for clinical dignostics any time; for the therapeutic use of epigenetics more breakthrough is warranted