Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2025
10:41
An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
Published on: April 5, 2018
10.5K
Recent advances in epigenetic anticancer therapeutics and future perspectives
Liwen Ren1,2, Yihui Yang1,2, Wan Li1,2
1The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, China.
Frontiers in Genetics
|January 23, 2023
Summary
Epigenetic drugs show promise in cancer treatment by regulating gene expression. Combining epigenetic therapies with other treatments may improve efficacy against solid tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
- Drug Development
Background:
- Tumorigenesis involves altered gene expression, including oncogene upregulation and tumor suppressor gene downregulation.
- Epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs regulate gene expression without changing DNA sequence.
- Epigenetic drugs are emerging as a significant area in oncology drug development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the role of epigenetics in tumor progression.
- To summarize the progress of epigenetic drugs in oncology.
- To explore the synergy of epigenetic therapies with other cancer treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer.
- Analysis of current epigenetic drug development status.
- Examination of combination therapy strategies involving epigenetic drugs.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic drugs have shown efficacy in hematologic cancers but less so in solid tumors.
- Epigenetic modulation is crucial for regulating gene expression during tumor development.
- Combination therapies involving epigenetic drugs are a promising strategy to enhance efficacy and overcome resistance.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic drugs represent a vital class of anticancer agents.
- Further research into epigenetic drug development and combination therapies is warranted for solid tumors.
- Epigenetic strategies hold significant potential for future cancer treatment paradigms.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
7.8K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
3.1K
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
3.1K
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
6.6K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.6K
01:30Cancer Vaccines
475
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
475
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
5.0K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
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...
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...
5.0K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
5.9K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.9K