Epigenetic inhibitors and their role in cancer therapy

Nouha Abdelaziz; Lubna Therachiyil; Hana Q Sadida; Ateeque Mohamed Ali; Omar S Khan; Mayank Singh; Abdul Q Khan; Ammira S Al-Shabeeb Akil; Ajaz A Bhat; Shahab Uddin

doi:10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.04.005

Epigenetic inhibitors and their role in cancer therapy

Int Rev Cell Mol Biol. 2023:380:211-251. doi: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.04.005. Epub 2023 Aug 1.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
² Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
³ Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
⁴ Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
⁵ Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA.
⁶ Department of Medical Oncology (Lab), BRAIRCH All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
⁷ Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: abhat@sidra.org.
⁸ Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Electronic address: SKhan34@hamad.qa.

PMID: 37657859
DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.04.005

Abstract

Epigenetic modifications to DNA are crucial for normal cellular and biological functioning. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling are the most common epigenetic mechanisms. These changes are heritable but still reversible. The aberrant epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA)-mediated gene regulation, play an essential role in developing various human diseases, including cancer. Recent studies show that synthetic and dietary epigenetic inhibitors attenuate the abnormal epigenetic modifications in cancer cells and therefore have strong potential for cancer treatment. In this chapter, we have highlighted various types of epigenetic modifications, their mechanism, and as drug targets for epigenetic therapy.

Keywords: Acetylation; Cancer; Chromatin remodeling; Epigenetic modifications; HDAC inhibitors; Methylation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic*
Humans
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Neoplasms* / genetics
Protein Processing, Post-Translational