title: The promise of epigenomic therapeutics in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often viewed to arise primarily by genetic alterations. However, today we know that many aspects of the cancer phenotype require a crosstalk among these genetic alterations with epigenetic changes. Indeed, aberrant gene expression patterns, driven by epigenetics are fixed by altered signaling from mutated oncogenes and tumor suppressors to define the PDAC phenotype. This conceptual framework may have significant mechanistic value and could offer novel possibilities for treating patients affected with PDAC. In fact, extensive investigations are leading to the development of small molecule drugs that reversibly modify the epigenome. These new 'epigenetic therapeutics' discussed herein are promising to fuel a new era of studies, by providing the medical community with new tools to treat this dismal disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epigenetics & Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biophysics, & Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Gwen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lomberk
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université & Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iovanna
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epigenetics & Chromatin Dynamics, Gastroenterology Research Unit, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biophysics, & Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urrutia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: DNA methylation; DNMTs; HATs; HDACs; HMTs; chromatin; epigenetics; noncoding RNAs; pancreatic cancer; therapeutics