Emerging Epigenetic Therapies for Brain Tumors

Neuromolecular Med. 2022 Mar;24(1):41-49. doi: 10.1007/s12017-021-08691-x. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Abstract

Malignant brain tumors are among the most intractable cancers, including malignancies such as glioblastoma, diffuse midline glioma, medulloblastoma, and ependymoma. Unfortunately, treatment options for these brain tumors have been inadequate and complex, leading to poor prognoses and creating a need for new treatment modalities. Aberrant epigenetics define these types of tumors, with underlying changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin structure and noncoding RNAs. Epigenetic-targeted therapies are an alternative that have the potential to reverse the epigenetic deregulation underpinning brain malignancies. Various drugs targeting epigenetic regulators have shown promise in preclinical and clinical testing. In this review, we highlight some of the recent emerging epigenetic targeted therapies for brain tumors being evaluated in the discovery phase and in clinical trials.

Keywords: Brain tumors; Clinical trials; Epigenetic; Mechanisms.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms* / genetics
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Epigenomics
  • Glioma* / drug therapy
  • Glioma* / genetics
  • Humans