title: Epigenetic regulation and therapeutic approaches in cancer.
abstract: The interdependency between genetic and epigenetic regulatory processes renders cancer therapeutics and translational clinic possible, even though they remain difficult tasks considering all the evidence supporting a central role of progenitor-stem cells as a causative source of cellular transformation. In contrast to genetic alterations, epigenetic processes are potentially reversible allowing a better action of complementary therapeutic compounds. Here I would first describe the plethora of interconnected epigenetic processes and targets to then discuss several therapeutic strategies on the basis of different compounds. I conclude that the advent of new and specific epigenetic target drugs will certainly contribute to better treatments and to the development of predictive protocols in a next future.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México 04510 DF, México. frecilla@ifc.unam.mx
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Recillas-Targa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002843:Chromatin