title: Epigenetic therapy for breast cancer.
abstract: Both genetic and epigenetic alterations can control the progression of cancer. Genetic alterations are impossible to reverse, while epigenetic alterations are reversible. This advantage suggests that epigenetic modifications should be preferred in therapy applications. DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases have become the primary targets for studies in epigenetic therapy. Some DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylation inhibitors are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, the uses of epigenetic targets are believed to have great potential as a lasting favorable approach in treating breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Gynecological Oncology, Department of Biomedicine, Women's Hospital, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, Room 420, Basel, CH 4031, Switzerland; E-Mails: fcai@uhbs.ch (F.-F.C.); kohlerc@uhbs.ch (C.K.); zhangb@uhbs.ch (B.Z.); wchen@uhbs.ch (W.-J.C.).
authors.forename: Feng-Feng
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases