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Epigenetics: Mechanisms, potential roles, and therapeutic strategies in cancer progression

Dong Wang1, Yan Zhang1, Qingbo Li1

  • 1Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.

Genes & Diseases
|July 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic modifications significantly influence cancer development within the tumor microenvironment. Exploring epigenetic drugs and combination therapies offers promising avenues for comprehensive cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer arises from genetic mutations and abnormal gene expression.
  • Epigenetic modifications are increasingly recognized as critical drivers of cancer development and progression.
  • The precise role of epigenetic dysregulation within the tumor microenvironment remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of epigenetic modifications in both cancer and non-cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment.
  • To summarize recent advancements in cancer epigenetic drugs.
  • To discuss the potential of epigenetic combination therapies for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epigenetic modifications in the tumor microenvironment.
  • Analysis of current research on cancer epigenetic drugs.
  • Discussion of challenges and future directions in cancer epigenetics.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic modifications in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment are crucial for cancer progression.
  • Significant progress has been made in developing epigenetic drugs for cancer therapy.
  • Epigenetic combination therapies show great potential for clinical application.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic modifications within the tumor microenvironment are fundamental to future drug development and cancer treatment.
  • Epigenetic combination therapy represents a novel and promising strategy for clinical cancer treatment.
  • Addressing challenges like epigenetic heterogeneity and multi-omics crosstalk is vital for advancing cancer epigenetics.
Keywords:
CancerEpigeneticsGene expressionHeterogeneityTumor microenvironment

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