<p>Aberrant DNA methylation across the genome is a hallmark of cancer. New therapeutics are being developed to inhibit general epigenetic pathways but unfortunately many have cytotoxic side effects. We have identified genomic loci that are aberrantly methylated across different types of cancer, and we are now developing methods that utilize genome-editing techniques to modify the methylation state of these cancer-associated loci. This will allow us to distinguish which methylation defects across the genome are driving tumor development and which methylation defects are consequences of unregulated tumor growth. Once we identify the specific epigenetic defects that are crucial for tumor growth, we can begin to determine why they occur and what downstream pathways are mis-regulated due to this epigenetic event. These discoveries will enable the development of therapies that target the specific epigenetic events or mis-regulated pathways that are crucial for tumor proliferation and spare the general epigenetic pathways utilized by most cells.</p>
