title: Epigenetic therapy as a novel approach in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver malignancy and one with high fatality. Its 5-year survival rate remains low and thus, there is a need for improvement of current treatment strategies as well as development of novel targeted methodologies in order to optimize existing therapeutic protocols. To this end, only recently, it was discovered that its pathophysiology also involves epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications and/or non-coding microRNA patterns. Unlike genetic events, epigenetic alterations are reversible and thus potentially considered to be an alternative option in cancer treatment protocols. In this review, we describe the general characteristics and resulted major alterations of the epigenetic machinery as well as current state of progress of epigenetic therapy (via different single or combinatorial experimental approaches) in HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anestopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia Persephoni
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Voulgaridou
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Mathematical & Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Georgakilas
authors.affiliation: Redox Biology Center, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Aglaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. Electronic address: M.Panagiotidis@hw.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mihalis I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Panayiotidis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics
keywords: DNMT inhibitors; Epigenetic modifications; Epigenetic therapy; HDAC inhibitors; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Natural products