Super-enhancers: A new frontier for glioma treatment

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2020 Apr;1873(2):188353. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188353. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Abstract

Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor in the human brain. Although there are a variety of treatments, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, glioma is still an incurable disease. Super-enhancers (SEs) are implicated in the control of tumor cell identity, and they promote oncogenic transcription, which supports tumor cells. Inhibition of the SE complex, which is required for the assembly and maintenance of SEs, may repress oncogenic transcription and impede tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the unique characteristics of SEs compared to typical enhancers, and we summarize the recent advances in the understanding of their properties and biological role in gene regulation. Additionally, we highlight that SE-driven lncRNAs, miRNAs and genes are involved in the malignant phenotype of glioma. Most importantly, the application of SE inhibitors in different cancer subtypes has introduced new directions in glioma treatment.

Keywords: Glioma; Long non-coding RNAs; Super-enhancers; miRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinogenesis / drug effects
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Glioma / drug therapy
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Oncogenes / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding