Epigenetic (De)regulation in Prostate Cancer.
Chenxi Xu1,2, Shuai Zhao1,2, Ling Cai3,4
1Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Cancer Treatment and Research
|December 19, 2023
Summary
Epigenetic alterations drive prostate cancer (PCa) progression and treatment resistance. Targeting these reversible epigenetic changes with inhibitors offers a promising strategy for advanced prostate cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex disease with genetic and epigenetic alterations.
- Androgen receptor (AR) signaling drives PCa, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment.
- Resistance to ADT inevitably develops, leading to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on epigenetic regulator dysregulation in PCa.
- To discuss the role of epigenetic changes in PCa initiation, development, and progression.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of epigenetic inhibitors for advanced PCa.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer.
- Analysis of the role of epigenetic regulators in PCa pathogenesis.
- Discussion of emerging epigenetic therapies for advanced prostate cancer.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone alterations, are crucial in PCa.
- Dysregulation of epigenetic factors contributes to ADT resistance and CRPC development.
- Epigenetic inhibitors show promise as novel therapeutic agents for advanced PCa.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic dysregulation is a key driver of prostate cancer progression and resistance.
- Targeting epigenetic modifications represents a promising therapeutic avenue for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
- Further research into epigenetic inhibitors could lead to improved treatments for advanced PCa.
Related Concept Videos
Epigenetic Regulation
3.0K
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...
3.0K
Abnormal Proliferation
4.5K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.5K
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
916
The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
916
Master Transcription Regulators
6.9K
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
6.9K
Negative Regulator Molecules
35.4K
Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
35.4K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
3.8K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.8K


