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Histone modifications as a platform for cancer therapy
Author(s) -
Espino Paula S.,
Drobic Bojan,
Dunn Katherine L.,
Davie James R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.20387
Subject(s) - epigenetics , cancer epigenetics , histone , biology , dna methylation , carcinogenesis , epigenetic regulation of neurogenesis , cancer research , gene , genetics , acetylation , gene expression , histone methyltransferase
Tumorigenesis and metastasis are a progression of events resulting from alterations in the processing of the genetic information. These alterations result from stable genetic changes (mutations) involving tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes (e.g., ras , BRAF ) and potentially reversible epigenetic changes, which are modifications in gene function without a change in the DNA sequence. Mutations of genes coding for proteins that directly or indirectly influence epigenetic processes will alter the cell's gene expression program. Epigenetic mechanisms often altered in cancer cells are DNA methylation and histone modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation). This article will review the potential of these reversible epigenetic processes as targets for cancer therapies. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.