Ancestors

Written by Benjamin S-B :verified: on 2025-01-28 at 14:04

New review paper out, in which we delve into the fascinating world of gestational trophoblastic disease. Never heard of it? Let me fill you in! (a 🧵) #epigenetics #cancer

https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/article/18/1/DMM052010/365465/Gestational-trophoblastic-disease-understanding

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Toot

Written by Benjamin S-B :verified: on 2025-01-28 at 14:04

GTD is a disease where placental cells grow abnormally in a pregnant woman's uterus. This can happen when an oocyte is fertilised, but subsequently looses the maternal part of the genome 😱 followed by duplication of the paternal set of chromosomes. (2/🧵)

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Descendants

Written by Benjamin S-B :verified: on 2025-01-28 at 14:04

This is called a "complete hyaditiform mole", and is - in effect - a foreign organism growing like a tumour inside the mother! 🤯 On occasion, these can even spread outside the uterus and form so-called choriocarcinomas. (3/🧵)

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Written by Benjamin S-B :verified: on 2025-01-28 at 14:05

This disease is fascinating for many reasons, but one that stands out is that it seems to be entirely driven by epigenetic factors rather than mutations, like most other tumours. So how does this work, and what can it teach us about cancer? (4/🧵)

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Written by Benjamin S-B :verified: on 2025-01-28 at 14:05

We think that studying the unique features of the epigenetic landscape of GTD can provide important clues on how immune evasion is accomplished in cancer, and on how epigenetic changes induce a pro-proliferative phenotype. (5/🧵)

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