An epigenetic perspective on the treatment of solid tumors with vincristine

Vincristine (VCR), a member of the vinca alkaloid group, is currently used as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. VCR is an antimitotic drug that acts by binding to the tubulin protein and thus inhibiting its polymerization. Despite advances in cancer treatment with VCR, there are two major problems: resistance to the drug and dose-dependent neurotoxicity. In the search for biological factors responsible for regulating the response to VCR, the important role of epigenetic mechanisms is emphasized as a hypothetical mechanism. Epigenetic modifications include post-translational histone protein modifications, DNA methylation, non-coding RNA-induced regulation, and chromatin remodeling. Here we review the current literature in depth for evidence of a reciprocal interaction between VCR and epigenetic mechanisms of the cancer cell. Our review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current data on the specific interplay between VCR and epigenetic mechanisms in solid tumors and may shed more light on the development of new treatments that incorporate epigenetic therapeutic strategies.