Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments
Highly aggressive tumors are characterized by a highly invasive phenotype, and they display chemoresistance. Furthermore, some of the tumors lack expression of biomarkers for target therapies. This is the case of small-cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/13/3209 |
| _version_ | 1797411811666952192 |
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| author | Javier Martinez-Useros Mario Martin-Galan Maria Florez-Cespedes Jesus Garcia-Foncillas |
| author_facet | Javier Martinez-Useros Mario Martin-Galan Maria Florez-Cespedes Jesus Garcia-Foncillas |
| author_sort | Javier Martinez-Useros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Highly aggressive tumors are characterized by a highly invasive phenotype, and they display chemoresistance. Furthermore, some of the tumors lack expression of biomarkers for target therapies. This is the case of small-cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, metastatic melanoma, and advanced ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, these patients show a low survival rate and most of the available drugs are ineffective. In this context, epigenetic modifications have emerged to provide the causes and potential treatments for such types of tumors. Methylation and hydroxymethylation of DNA, and histone modifications, are the most common targets of epigenetic therapy, to influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. These modifications could impact both oncogenes and tumor suppressor factors, which influence several molecular pathways such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, WNT/β–catenin, PI3K–mTOR, MAPK, or mismatch repair machinery. However, epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible events that could be influenced by some environmental conditions, such as UV exposure, smoking habit, or diet. Changes in DNA methylation status and/or histone modification, such as acetylation, methylation or phosphorylation, among others, are the most important targets for epigenetic cancer therapy. Therefore, the present review aims to compile the basic information of epigenetic modifications, pathways and factors, and provide a rationale for the research and treatment of highly aggressive tumors with epigenetic drugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:51:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11d57e39a32f4c7fb0f48f9d762cb5b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:51:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-11d57e39a32f4c7fb0f48f9d762cb5b72023-12-03T13:09:56ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-06-011313320910.3390/cancers13133209Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and TreatmentsJavier Martinez-Useros0Mario Martin-Galan1Maria Florez-Cespedes2Jesus Garcia-Foncillas3Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, SpainTranslational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, SpainImperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2BX, UKTranslational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, SpainHighly aggressive tumors are characterized by a highly invasive phenotype, and they display chemoresistance. Furthermore, some of the tumors lack expression of biomarkers for target therapies. This is the case of small-cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, metastatic melanoma, and advanced ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, these patients show a low survival rate and most of the available drugs are ineffective. In this context, epigenetic modifications have emerged to provide the causes and potential treatments for such types of tumors. Methylation and hydroxymethylation of DNA, and histone modifications, are the most common targets of epigenetic therapy, to influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. These modifications could impact both oncogenes and tumor suppressor factors, which influence several molecular pathways such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, WNT/β–catenin, PI3K–mTOR, MAPK, or mismatch repair machinery. However, epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible events that could be influenced by some environmental conditions, such as UV exposure, smoking habit, or diet. Changes in DNA methylation status and/or histone modification, such as acetylation, methylation or phosphorylation, among others, are the most important targets for epigenetic cancer therapy. Therefore, the present review aims to compile the basic information of epigenetic modifications, pathways and factors, and provide a rationale for the research and treatment of highly aggressive tumors with epigenetic drugs.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/13/3209epigeneticmethylationacetylationnon-coding RNAsmall-cell lung cancertriple-negative breast cancer |
| spellingShingle | Javier Martinez-Useros Mario Martin-Galan Maria Florez-Cespedes Jesus Garcia-Foncillas Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments Cancers epigenetic methylation acetylation non-coding RNA small-cell lung cancer triple-negative breast cancer |
| title | Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments |
| title_full | Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments |
| title_short | Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments |
| title_sort | epigenetics of most aggressive solid tumors pathways targets and treatments |
| topic | epigenetic methylation acetylation non-coding RNA small-cell lung cancer triple-negative breast cancer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/13/3209 |
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