Abstract 2898 Identification of Methylation Patterns, Associated DNA Methylating Proteins, and Methyltransferase Inhibitors on the Promoter Regions of DAX-1

The DAX-1 gene (Dosage-Sensitive Sex Reversal, Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita, Critical Region on the X chromosome, gene 1) encodes for an orphan nuclear hormone receptor and its mutation is implicated in multiple diseases including congenital adrenal hypoplasia, adrenal cancer, and breast cancer. Previous research has linked DAX-1 downregulation to tumor initiation in breast tissue, suggesting the gene acts as a tumor suppressor with respect to breast cancer. Additional studies completed by the Tzagarakis-Foster Laboratory have shown that methylation of the DAX-1 promoter region is heavily influential in breast cancer development, with release of epigenetic repression resulting in slowing of cellular proliferation and tumor progression.