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Epigenetic Deregulation of Apoptosis in Cancers

Ezgi Ozyerli-Goknar1,2, Tugba Bagci-Onder1,2

  • 1Brain Cancer Research and Therapy Laboratory, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul 34450, Turkey.

Cancers
|July 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells evade apoptosis through genetic mutations and epigenetic changes. Epigenetic drugs targeting chromatin modifiers can restore apoptosis, offering new cancer therapy strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Cancer cells evade programmed cell death (apoptosis) via genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations.
  • Epigenetic modifications, including DNA and histone alterations, regulate genes involved in apoptosis.
  • Chromatin-modifying enzymes play a crucial role in these epigenetic changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how epigenetic deregulation impacts apoptosis signaling in cancer.
  • To review the role of chromatin-modifying enzymes in apoptosis evasion.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of epigenetic drugs in modulating cancer cell apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on epigenetics and apoptosis.
  • Focus on the function of chromatin-modifying enzymes (DNMT, HMT, HDAC, BET).
  • Analysis of epigenetic drug mechanisms and their impact on apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms are critical for cancer cells to evade apoptosis.
  • Chromatin-modifying enzymes are key regulators of apoptosis signaling pathways.
  • Epigenetic drugs demonstrate potential in re-sensitizing resistant cancer cells to apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting epigenetic modifications offers a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.
  • Epigenetic drug interventions can overcome therapy resistance by inducing apoptosis.
  • Rewiring the cancer epigenome can lead to effective apoptotic cell death.
Keywords:
apoptosiscancerchromatin modifying enzymesepigenetic drugsevasiontherapy

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