Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin
Extensive efforts recently witnessed the complexity of cancer biology; however, molecular medicine still lacks the ability to elucidate hidden mechanisms for the maintenance of specific subclasses of rare tumors characterized by the silent onset and a poor prognosis (e.g., ovarian cancer, pancreatic...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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Series: | Cancers |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/3/682 |
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author | Francesca Citron Linda Fabris |
author_facet | Francesca Citron Linda Fabris |
author_sort | Francesca Citron |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Extensive efforts recently witnessed the complexity of cancer biology; however, molecular medicine still lacks the ability to elucidate hidden mechanisms for the maintenance of specific subclasses of rare tumors characterized by the silent onset and a poor prognosis (e.g., ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma). Recent mutational fingerprints of human cancers highlighted genomic alteration occurring on epigenetic modulators. In this scenario, the epigenome dependency of cancer orchestrates a broad range of cellular processes critical for tumorigenesis and tumor progression, possibly mediating escaping mechanisms leading to drug resistance. Indeed, in this review, we discuss the pivotal role of chromatin remodeling in shaping the tumor architecture and modulating tumor fitness in a microenvironment-dependent context. We will also present recent advances in the epigenome targeting, posing a particular emphasis on how this knowledge could be translated into a feasible therapeutic approach to individualize clinical settings and improve patient outcomes. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:52:13Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-6b48b098e1f345b9b3c229d9c905d53a |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2072-6694 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:52:13Z |
publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Cancers |
spelling | doaj.art-6b48b098e1f345b9b3c229d9c905d53a2023-09-02T12:23:49ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942020-03-0112368210.3390/cancers12030682cancers12030682Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers OriginFrancesca Citron0Linda Fabris1Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USADepartment of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USAExtensive efforts recently witnessed the complexity of cancer biology; however, molecular medicine still lacks the ability to elucidate hidden mechanisms for the maintenance of specific subclasses of rare tumors characterized by the silent onset and a poor prognosis (e.g., ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma). Recent mutational fingerprints of human cancers highlighted genomic alteration occurring on epigenetic modulators. In this scenario, the epigenome dependency of cancer orchestrates a broad range of cellular processes critical for tumorigenesis and tumor progression, possibly mediating escaping mechanisms leading to drug resistance. Indeed, in this review, we discuss the pivotal role of chromatin remodeling in shaping the tumor architecture and modulating tumor fitness in a microenvironment-dependent context. We will also present recent advances in the epigenome targeting, posing a particular emphasis on how this knowledge could be translated into a feasible therapeutic approach to individualize clinical settings and improve patient outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/3/682epigeneticscancer stem celltargeted therapyovarian cancerglioblastomapancreatic cancer |
spellingShingle | Francesca Citron Linda Fabris Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin Cancers epigenetics cancer stem cell targeted therapy ovarian cancer glioblastoma pancreatic cancer |
title | Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin |
title_full | Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin |
title_fullStr | Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin |
title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin |
title_short | Targeting Epigenetic Dependencies in Solid Tumors: Evolutionary Landscape Beyond Germ Layers Origin |
title_sort | targeting epigenetic dependencies in solid tumors evolutionary landscape beyond germ layers origin |
topic | epigenetics cancer stem cell targeted therapy ovarian cancer glioblastoma pancreatic cancer |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/3/682 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT francescacitron targetingepigeneticdependenciesinsolidtumorsevolutionarylandscapebeyondgermlayersorigin AT lindafabris targetingepigeneticdependenciesinsolidtumorsevolutionarylandscapebeyondgermlayersorigin |