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Targeting Super-Enhancers as a Therapeutic Strategy for Cancer Treatment

Yi He1, Wenyong Long1, Qing Liu1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Frontiers in Pharmacology
|May 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Super-enhancers (SEs) are crucial for gene expression and play a significant role in cancer development. Targeting SEs offers a promising new therapeutic strategy to complement existing cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Super-enhancers (SEs) are large clusters of enhancers that regulate gene expression.
  • SEs are increasingly recognized for their critical roles in various diseases, particularly cancer.
  • Dysregulation of SEs is linked to tumorigenesis and cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which SEs contribute to cancer development.
  • To explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting SEs for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on SEs in cancer.
  • Analysis of oncogenic pathways regulated by SEs.
  • Examination of clinical trials for SEs inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • SEs are implicated in diverse cancer mechanisms, including gene mutations, rearrangements, and chromosomal abnormalities.
  • Various oncogenic molecules and pathways are tightly controlled by SEs.
  • Clinical trials of SEs blockers (e.g., BET inhibitors, CDK7 inhibitors) show therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

  • SEs are key drivers in cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting SEs represents a novel and potentially effective approach to cancer therapy.
  • SEs-targeted therapies may complement traditional cancer treatments, improving patient outcomes.
Keywords:
bromodomain and extra-terminal domain proteincyclin-dependent kinase 7enhancer elementsneoplasmssuper-enhancer

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