Open AccessGenetic and epigenetic heterogeneity of epithelial ovarian cancer and the clinical implications for molecular targeted therapy
Author(s) -
Bai Huimin,
Cao Dongyan,
Yang Jiaxin,
Li Menghui,
Zhang Zhenyu,
Shen Keng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.12771
Subject(s) - ovarian cancer , epigenetics , epigenomics , malignancy , epithelial ovarian cancer , biology , breast cancer , epigenetic therapy , targeted therapy , cancer research , homologous recombination , oncology , cancer , bioinformatics , medicine , gene , genetics , dna methylation , gene expression
Epithelial ovarian cancer ( EOC ) is the most lethal gynaecological malignancy, and tumoural heterogeneity ( TH ) has been blamed for treatment failure. The genomic and epigenomic atlas of EOC varies significantly with tumour histotype, grade, stage, sensitivity to chemotherapy and prognosis. Rapidly accumulating knowledge about the genetic and epigenetic events that control TH in EOC has facilitated the development of molecular‐targeted therapy. Poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, designed to target homologous recombination, are poised to change how breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA)‐related ovarian cancer is treated. Epigenetic treatment regimens being tested in clinical or preclinical studies could provide promising novel treatment approaches and hope for improving patient survival.