This collaborative study, published in Nature on Nov 1, 2023 involved researchers from the Divisions of Oncology, Department of Surgery, McDonnell Genome Institute, Siteman Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Department of Genetics at Washington University.
Scientists discovered specific epigenetic changes that trigger cancer initiation, and different ones that promote metastasis. They also found evidence that these epigenetic changes can work together with DNA mutations to cause and spread cancer. Some changes were found in many different types of cancer, while others were specific to certain cancers.