Using Epigenetic Therapy to Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance
Julius Strauss1, William D Figg2
1Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A. julius.strauss@nih.gov.
Abstract:
It has been known for decades that as cancer progresses, tumors develop genetic alterations, making them highly prone to developing resistance to therapies. Classically, it has been thought that these acquired genetic changes are fixed. This has led to the paradigm of moving from one cancer therapy to the next while avoiding past therapies. However, emerging data on epigenetic changes during tumor progression and use of epigenetic therapies have shown that epigenetic modifications leading to chemotherapy resistance have the potential to be reversible with epigenetic therapy. In fact, promising clinical data exist that treatment with epigenetic agents can diminish chemotherapy resistance in a number of tumor types including chronic myelogenous leukemia, colorectal, ovarian, lung and breast cancer. The potential for epigenetic-modifying drugs to allow for treatment of resistant disease is exciting and clinical trials have just begun to evaluate this area.
Insights
Cancer therapies face resistance due to genetic changes. However, epigenetic therapy can reverse these changes, making resistant cancers treatable and opening new therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Cancer progression involves genetic alterations leading to therapy resistance.
- Traditionally, these genetic changes were considered irreversible, necessitating sequential therapies.
- Emerging research highlights the role of epigenetics in chemotherapy resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of epigenetic modifications in overcoming cancer therapy resistance.
- To review the reversibility of epigenetic changes that cause chemotherapy resistance.
- To highlight the clinical promise of epigenetic therapy in treating resistant cancers.
Main Methods:
- Review of emerging data on epigenetic changes in tumor progression.
- Analysis of clinical data on the efficacy of epigenetic agents.
- Examination of ongoing clinical trials for epigenetic therapies.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic modifications contributing to chemotherapy resistance are potentially reversible.
- Epigenetic therapy has shown promise in diminishing resistance in various cancers.
- Clinical trials are actively investigating epigenetic agents for resistant disease.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic therapy offers a promising strategy to re-sensitize resistant tumors to treatment.
- This approach may allow for the re-treatment of patients with previously resistant cancers.
- Further clinical evaluation of epigenetic agents is warranted for resistant malignancies.
More Related Videos
10:28Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
09:38Establishing Dual Resistance to EGFR-TKI and MET-TKI in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro with a 2-step Dose-escalation Procedure
Published on: August 11, 2017
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
02:56Treatment Resistent Cancers
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...