Precision epigenetic therapies in oncology.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epigenetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Phenotypic plasticity, driven by epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation and histone modifications, is crucial for cancer metastasis and therapy resistance.
• Epigenetic alterations are key drivers of cancer progression and the development of drug-resistant clones.
• Pharmacological targeting of epigenetic enzymes offers a potential strategy to reverse these alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of precision epigenetic therapies in solid cancers.
• To identify challenges hindering the clinical implementation of epigenetic treatments.
• To explore the role of liquid biopsy in patient selection and therapy monitoring for epigenetic therapies.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on epigenetic mechanisms in cancer.
• Analysis of pre-clinical and clinical data on epigenetic therapies.
• Discussion of liquid biopsy technologies for epigenetic alteration detection.

Main Results:

• Epigenetic therapies show promise pre-clinically but have yielded disappointing clinical results in solid tumors.
• Challenges include the need for rational drug combinations and overcoming heterogeneous, short-lived treatment responses.
• Liquid biopsy technology enables patient stratification and monitoring, paving the way for precision epigenetic therapies.

Conclusions:

• Precision epigenetic therapies, guided by liquid biopsy, represent an emerging modality for cancer treatment.
• Overcoming challenges in rational combinations and response heterogeneity is crucial for realizing the full potential of epigenetic therapies.
• Further research is needed to optimize the clinical application of these novel therapeutic strategies.