Targeting Epigenetics in Cancer

Overview

Journal Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol

Publisher Annual Reviews

Specialties Pharmacology
Toxicology

Date 2017 Oct 10

PMID 28992434

Citations 104

Authors

Richard L Bennett

Jonathan D Licht

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Alterations of genes regulating epigenetic processes are frequently found as cancer drivers and may cause widespread alterations of DNA methylation, histone modification patterns, or chromatin structure that disrupt normal patterns of gene expression. Because of the inherent reversibility of epigenetic changes, inhibitors targeting these processes are promising anticancer strategies. Small molecules targeting epigenetic regulators have been developed recently, and clinical trials of these agents are under way for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. In this review, we describe how the writers, readers, and erasers of epigenetic marks are dysregulated in cancer and summarize the development of therapies targeting these mechanisms.

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