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Epigenetic Therapy in Breast Cancer

Maryam B Lustberg1, Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy

  • 1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, USA.

Current Breast Cancer Reports
|October 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic alterations drive breast cancer progression. Therapies targeting these reversible changes, like demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors, are being investigated for breast cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Breast cancer development involves genetic and epigenetic modifications.
  • Epigenetics refers to heritable gene expression changes without altering DNA sequence.
  • Key epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modification, and nucleosome remodeling, often dysregulated in breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of epigenetic regulation in breast cancer.
  • To focus on clinical trials investigating therapies that target epigenetic mechanisms in breast cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on epigenetics and breast cancer.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for epigenetic therapies in breast cancer.
  • Discussion of gene expression changes related to proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic changes in breast cancer affect genes controlling critical cellular processes.
  • Demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) show potential in breast cancer therapy.
  • These epigenetic drugs are explored as single agents or in combination therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic modifications are crucial in breast carcinogenesis.
  • The reversibility of epigenetic changes offers therapeutic opportunities.
  • Targeting epigenetic mechanisms holds promise for novel breast cancer treatments.

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