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Epigenetic cancer prevention mechanisms in skin cancer

Kamalika Saha1, Thomas J Hornyak, Richard L Eckert

  • 1Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 108 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA.

The AAPS Journal
|August 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Dietary compounds like sulforaphane and green tea polyphenols can prevent cancer by altering epigenetic mechanisms. These natural agents impact DNA methylation and histone modification, offering new avenues for skin cancer prevention research.

Area of Science:

  • * Molecular biology and epigenetics
  • * Cancer prevention and chemoprevention
  • * Nutritional science and dietary interventions

Background:

  • * Epigenetics plays a crucial role in understanding cancer development and prevention.
  • * Dietary chemopreventive agents derived from natural sources are increasingly recognized for their ability to modulate epigenetic processes.
  • * Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing effective cancer prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To review key epigenetic regulatory mechanisms relevant to cancer prevention.
  • * To examine the impact of specific dietary compounds, sulforaphane and green tea polyphenols, on these epigenetic processes.
  • * To discuss the role of epigenetics in skin cancer and the potential of diet-derived agents.

Main Methods:

  • * Literature review of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer prevention.
  • * Analysis of studies investigating the effects of sulforaphane and green tea polyphenols on epigenetic modifications.
  • * Synthesis of current knowledge on epigenetics in the context of skin cancer.

Main Results:

  • * Diet-derived chemopreventive agents significantly modulate epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation and histone modifications.
  • * Sulforaphane and green tea polyphenols demonstrate potential in influencing cancer cell survival through epigenetic pathways.
  • * Evidence suggests a role for epigenetic modulation in skin cancer prevention by dietary compounds.

Conclusions:

  • * Dietary chemopreventive agents are potent modulators of epigenetic mechanisms crucial for cancer prevention.
  • * Sulforaphane and green tea polyphenols represent promising natural compounds for targeting epigenetic alterations in cancer.
  • * Further research into epigenetic mechanisms is warranted for advancing skin cancer prevention strategies.

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