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Updated: Jun 6, 2025
10:28
Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
6.4K
Getting the right combination to break the epigenetic code.
Seda S Tolu1, Aaron D Viny2, Jennifer E Amengual2
1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. st3406@cumc.columbia.edu.
Nature Reviews. Clinical Oncology
|December 2, 2024
Summary
Epigenetic therapies show promise in cancer treatment, especially when combined with other drugs. Current combination strategies are most effective in blood cancers, with ongoing research to improve solid tumor outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial for cancer progression.
- Epigenetic agents are FDA-approved for cancer treatment.
- Single-agent epigenetic therapy efficacy is limited across many cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical advances in epigenetic combination therapies for cancer.
- To discuss limitations and challenges of these combinatorial strategies.
- To highlight opportunities for precision medicine in harnessing epigenetic agents.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical data on epigenetic agents in combination therapies.
- Analysis of epigenetic-epigenetic combinations, and combinations with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted agents.
- Discussion of efficacy differences between solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
Main Results:
- Combination therapies involving epigenetic agents have shown success, particularly in hematological malignancies.
- Limited efficacy has been observed in patients with solid tumors.
- Challenges include inherent biological differences and treatment resistance.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic combination therapies offer potential for synergistic activity and overcoming resistance.
- Success is currently confined to hematological malignancies, necessitating further research for solid tumors.
- Precision therapy approaches are key to maximizing the clinical benefit of epigenetic agents.
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