Epigenetic reprogramming in cancer: From diagnosis to treatment

Disruption of the epigenetic program of gene expression is a hallmark of cancer that initiates and propagates tumorigenesis. Altered DNA methylation, histone modifications and ncRNAs expression are a feature of cancer cells. The dynamic epigenetic changes during oncogenic transformation are related to tumor heterogeneity, unlimited self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. This stem cell-like state or the aberrant reprogramming of cancer stem cells is the major challenge in treatment and drug resistance. Given the reversible nature of epigenetic modifications, the ability to restore the cancer epigenome through the inhibition of the epigenetic modifiers is a promising therapy for cancer treatment, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other anticancer therapies, including immunotherapies. Herein, we highlighted the main epigenetic alterations, their potential as a biomarker for early diagnosis and the epigenetic therapies approved for cancer treatment.

Automated summary

Disruption of the epigenetic program of gene expression is a hallmark of cancer, which is related to tumor heterogeneity, self-renewal, and differentiation. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications provides a promising approach for cancer treatment by restoring the cancer epigenome through the inhibition of epigenetic modifiers. These alterations can also serve as biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis, and there are already approved epigenetic therapies for cancer treatment.