Altered Histone Modifications in Gliomas

Gliomas are the most frequently occurring primary brain tumors in adults. Although they exist in different malignant stages, including histologically benign forms and highly aggressive states, most gliomas are clinically challenging for neuro-oncologists because of their infiltrative growth patterns and inherent relapse tendency with increased malignancy. Once this disease reaches the glioblastoma multiforme stage, the prognosis of patients is dismal: median survival time is 15 months. Extensive genetic analyses of glial tumors have revealed a variety of deregulated genetic pathways involved in DNA repair, apoptosis, cell migration/adhesion, and cell cycle. Recently, it has become evident that epigenetic alterations may also be an important factor for glioma genesis. Of epigenetic marks, histone modification is a key mark that regulates gene expression and thus modulates a wide range of cellular processes. In this review, I discuss the neuro-oncological significance of altered histone modifications and modifiers in glioma patients while briefly overviewing the biological roles of histone modifications.