title: Epigenetic Pathways of Oncogenic Viruses: Therapeutic Promises.
abstract: Cancerous transformation comprises different events that are both genetic and epigenetic. The ultimate goal for such events is to maintain cell survival and proliferation. This transformation occurs as a consequence of different features such as environmental and genetic factors, as well as some types of infection. Many viral infections are considered to be causative agents of a number of different malignancies. To convert normal cells into cancerous cells, oncogenic viruses must function at the epigenetic level to communicate with their host cells. Oncogenic viruses encode certain epigenetic factors that lead to the immortality and proliferation of infected cells. The epigenetic effectors produced by oncogenic viruses constitute appealing targets to prevent and treat malignant diseases caused by these viruses. In this review, we highlight the importance of epigenetic reprogramming for virus-induced oncogenesis, with special emphasis on viral epigenetic oncoproteins as therapeutic targets. The discovery of molecular components that target epigenetic pathways, especially viral factors, is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Araby
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdelrahman A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hanbal
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abdelwahab
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Omar M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Qassem
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Alsulaymanya, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Moustafa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: El-Araby
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Cancer; Epigenetic therapy; Epigenetics; Oncovirus