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Updated: Nov 8, 2025

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
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Advances in epigenetic therapeutics with focus on solid tumors

Ning Jin1, Tiffany L George1, Gregory A Otterson1

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

Clinical Epigenetics
|April 21, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic modifications, like DNA methylation, can change gene expression without altering DNA. This review covers epigenetic agents and their use in treating solid tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.
  • Aberrant epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are implicated in cancer development.
  • Epigenetic-targeted therapies show promise in hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of epigenetic modifications.
  • To discuss Food and Drug Administration-approved epigenetic agents.
  • To focus on current clinical investigations of novel epigenetic therapies in solid tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epigenetic modifications.
  • Analysis of FDA-approved epigenetic agents.
  • Examination of clinical trials for monotherapies and combination therapies in solid tumors.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, histone methylation/acetylation, and non-coding/mRNA methylation.
  • Epigenetic agents have shown clinical activity in blood cancers and therapeutic potential in solid tumors.
  • Ongoing research explores novel epigenetic monotherapies and combination strategies for solid tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic modifications are crucial in cancer and offer therapeutic targets.
  • FDA-approved epigenetic agents are established treatments, with ongoing research for novel applications.
  • Combination epigenetic therapies show potential for enhanced efficacy in solid tumors.
Keywords:
AcetylationCancerEpigeneticMethylationReprogrammingTherapeuticsTherapies

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