title: Chromatin, cancer and drug therapies.
abstract: The structure and organization of chromatin have attracted a great deal of attention recently because of their implications for the field of epigenetics. DNA methylation and the post-translational modifications that occur on histones can specify transcriptional competency. During cancer development, tumor suppressor genes become silenced by DNA hypermethylation and chromatin modifiers no longer perform in their usual manner. Current epigenetic therapy has been able to take advantage of the reversibility of these epimutations. Progress has been made in the treatment of hematological malignancies and some solid tumors. As the knowledge of how chromatin regulates gene expression is enhanced, improvements in the treatment of cancer can be made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9181, USA.
authors.forename: Connie C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones