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Epigenetic Therapies and Potential Drugs for Treating Human Cancer

Shi-Qi Lin1, Xia Li1

  • 1College of Marine Science, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.

Current Drug Targets
|March 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic modifications regulate cell function but are often disrupted in cancer. Novel epigenetic therapies targeting DNA methylation and histone modification show promise for treating various cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epigenetic modifications are crucial for normal cellular functions.
  • Dysregulation of epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation and histone modification, is linked to cancer development, progression, and metastasis.
  • Aberrations in chromatin structure also contribute to tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide fundamental information on epigenetic modifications.
  • To explore the potential of epigenetic therapies in cancer treatment.
  • To discuss novel agents targeting epigenetic modifiers.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on epigenetic modifications in cancer.
  • Analysis of small molecules designed to target epigenetic modifiers.
  • Overview of epigenetic therapies in clinical trials.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic dysregulation, particularly DNA methylation and histone modification, is a hallmark of cancer.
  • Numerous small molecules targeting epigenetic modifiers have been developed.
  • Several epigenetic agents are undergoing clinical trials for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic modifications play a significant role in cancer biology.
  • Targeting epigenetic processes offers promising new avenues for anti-cancer strategies.
  • Epigenetic therapies represent a developing frontier in cancer treatment.
Keywords:
DNA methylationEpigeneticHistonescancerepigenetic drugstherapies

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