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Epigenomics and epigenetic therapy of cancer

Robert Brown1, Gordon Strathdee

  • 1Cancer Research UK Dept of Medical Oncology, Beatson Laboratories, Glasgow University, Glasgow, UK G61 1BD. r.brown@beatson.gla.ac.uk

Trends in Molecular Medicine
|April 3, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic gene silencing is key in cancer. Drugs targeting these epigenetic changes can suppress tumors and improve cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone modification, regulate gene transcription and are crucial for normal cell growth.
  • Cancer cells often exhibit epigenetic inactivation of critical growth-control genes.
  • Aberrant chromatin structure and gene silencing are hallmarks of cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of epigenetic inactivation in cancer.
  • To investigate the potential of targeting epigenetic mechanisms for cancer therapy.
  • To define epigenetic patterns of gene inactivation in tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of chromatin alterations, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation.
  • Investigating the effects of small molecules that reverse epigenetic inactivation.
  • Epigenomic analysis of tumor samples.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic inactivation of tumor suppressor genes is a common event in cancer.
  • Re-expression of epigenetically silenced genes can inhibit tumor growth.
  • Drugs targeting epigenetic silencing are in clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic modifications play a critical role in cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting epigenetic mechanisms offers a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer.
  • Epigenomic analysis can identify therapeutic targets and guide treatment decisions.

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