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Review Article | Open Access

Epigenetic mechanisms as a new approach in cancer treatment: An updated review

Masoumeh Fardia,d,, Saeed Solalib,c, Majid Farshdousti Haghe( )
Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Department of Immunology, Division of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Peer review under responsibility of Chongqing Medical University.

Show Author Information

Abstract

Epigenetic, along with genetic mechanisms, is essential for natural evolution and maintenance of specific patterns of gene expression in mammalians. Global epigenetic variation is inherited somatically and unlike genetic variation, it is dynamic and reversible. They are somatically associated with known genetic variations.

Recent studies indicate the broad role of epigenetic mechanisms in the initiation and development of cancers, that they are including DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosomes changes, non-coding RNAs. The reversible nature of epigenetic changes has led to the emergence of novel epigenetic therapeutic approaches, so that several types of these medications have been approved by the FDA so far.

In this review, we discuss the concept of epigenetic changes in diseases, especially cancers, the role of these changes in the onset and progression of cancers and the potential of using this knowledge in designing novel therapeutic strategies.

Keywords

TreatmentCancerMechanismsEpigeneticMethylation

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Genes & Diseases
Volume 5 Issue 4,
December 2018
Pages 304-311
DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2018.06.003
Cite this article:
Fardi M, Solali S, Hagh MF. Epigenetic mechanisms as a new approach in cancer treatment: An updated review. Genes & Diseases, 2018, 5(4): 304-311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2018.06.003

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Received: 11 May 2018
Accepted: 12 June 2018
Published: 18 June 2018
© 2018, Chongqing Medical University.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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