Epigenetic actions of environmental factors and promising drugs for cancer therapy (Review)

Abstract

Abstract.Carcinogenesis is known to be primarily associa ted with gene mutations. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that epigenetic events also serve crucial roles in tumor etiology. Environmental factors, including nutrition, toxicants and ethanol, are involved in carcinogenesis through inducing epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone deacetylase and miRNA regulation. Studying epigenetic mechanisms has facilitated the development of early diagnostic strategies and potential therapeutic avenues. Modulation at the epigenetic level, including reversing epigenetic modifications using targeted drugs, has demonstrated promise in cancer therapy. Therefore, identifying novel epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets has potential for the future of cancer therapy. The present review discusses the environmental factors involved in epigenetic modifications and potential drug candidates for cancer therapy.

Hypermethylation of CCND2 in Lung and Breast Cancer Is a Potential Biomarker and Drug Target

“…Therefore, aberrant circulating cell-free DNA methylation of CCND2 may serve as a potential early diagnosis marker and poor prognosis marker in the future. However, DNA methylation can be changed when short-time exposure of tobacco carcinogen and other environmental factor [ 37 , 38 ]. Accordingly, the plasma cell-free circulating DNA samples will be isolated from blood cells and stored in −80 °C degree within 2 h. The weakness of this study is the cohort of 93 samples of Taiwanese breast cancer patients were analyzed for methylation of CCND2 gene is not the same with the cohort of 18 patients were analyzed in patients’ plasma circulating cell free DNA.…”

Reading Cancer: Chromatin Readers as Druggable Targets for Cancer Treatment

“…Moreover, small molecules targeting epigenetic-related proteins (i.e., writers, eraser and readers) still hold pros and cons. HDAC inhibitors therapy, for instance, lacks in therapeutic effectiveness in ovarian cancer, glioblastoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma [50,73,74]. Although potent as drugs for clinical use, BET inhibitors are not able to singularly bind a bromodomain containing family member, a feature that could certainly reduce therapy-related side effects [13,50].…”

Clinical Overview of the Role of Epigenetics in Human Diseases

“…Bugüne kadar, azasitidin (5azasitidin) ve desitabin (5-aza-2′-deoksisitidin) gibi iki DNMT inhibitörü miyelodisplastik sendromun tedavisi için onaylanmıştır 41,42 . Buna ek olarak, birçok başka DNMT inhibe edici ilaç (örneğin, Zebularin, Prokain, Hidralazin ve Genistein) çalışmalarda denenmektedir 43 . Ancak, DNMT inhibitörleri sıklıkla, ortak etki mekanizmaları nedeniyle hedeflenen genler dışındaki bölgeleri de etkilemektedir.…”