New therapeutic targets in cancer: the epigenetic connection.
Cancer is an epigenetic disease, a combination of DNA modifications, chromatin organization and variations in its associated proteins, configure a new entity that regulates gene function throughout methylation, acetylation and chromatin remodelling. Irregular de novo DNA methylation, mainly promoter hypermethylation, histone deacetylation or methylation are important means for the transcriptional repression of cancer-associated genes. Reverse these epigenetic processes restoring normal expression of malignancy- preventing-genes has consequently become a new therapeutic target in cancer treatment. Aberrant patterns of epigenetic modifications will be, in a near future, crucial parameters in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.
Herranz
Michel
M
Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Esteller
Manel
M
D000107:Acetylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D015195:Drug Design; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005544:Forecasting; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases