Methyltransferases in the Pathogenesis of Keratinocyte Cancers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Despite being the most common of all cancers, the underlying mechanisms behind the origins and progression of skin cancers like keratinocyte cancers are still emerging. Epigenetic dysregulation is pervasive in these cancers and it has become clear that by uncovering the mechanisms behind these changes, new therapeutic approaches may emerge. ABSTRACT: Recent evidence suggests that the disruption of gene expression by alterations in DNA, RNA, and histone methylation may be critical contributors to the pathogenesis of keratinocyte cancers (KCs), made up of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), which collectively outnumber all other human cancers combined. While it is clear that methylation modifiers are frequently dysregulated in KCs, the underlying molecular and mechanistic changes are only beginning to be understood. Intriguingly, it has recently emerged that there is extensive cross-talk amongst these distinct methylation processes. Here, we summarize and synthesize the latest findings in this space and highlight how these discoveries may uncover novel therapeutic approaches for these ubiquitous cancers.