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A novel strategy for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma: DNA methylation
Author(s) -
Liu Aimei,
Wu Qinghua,
Peng Dapeng,
Ares Irma,
Anadón Arturo,
LopezTorres Bernardo,
MartínezLarrañaga MaríaRosa,
Wang Xu,
Martínez MaríaAránzazu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
medicinal research reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.868
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1098-1128
pISSN - 0198-6325
DOI - 10.1002/med.21696
Subject(s) - epigenetics , hepatocellular carcinoma , dna methylation , medicine , cancer , liver cancer , bioinformatics , disease , drug resistance , cancer research , hepatitis b , oncology , biology , genetics , gene , gene expression
Abstract The cancer mortality rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second highest in the world and the therapeutic options are limited. The incidence of this deadly cancer is rising at an alarming rate because of the high degree of resistance to chemo‐ and radiotherapy, lack of proper, and adequate vaccination to hepatitis B, and lack of consciousness and knowledge about the disease itself and the lifestyle of the people. DNA methylation and DNA methylation‐induced epigenetic alterations, due to their potential reversibility, open the access to develop novel biomarkers and therapeutics for HCC. The contribution to these epigenetic changes in HCC development still has not been thoroughly summarized. Thus, it is necessary to better understand the new molecular targets of HCC epigenetics in HCC diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. This review elaborates on recent key findings regarding molecular biomarkers for HCC early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Currently emerging epigenetic drugs for the treatment of HCC are summarized. In addition, combining epigenetic drugs with nonepigenetic drugs for HCC treatment is also mentioned. The molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation‐mediated HCC resistance are reviewed, providing some insights into the difficulty of treating liver cancer and anticancer drug development.